It’s a new year, so why not make this year the year that you achieve your health goals?
They’re often the first on people’s lists and are also the first resolution people tend to give up on, but not this year. We’re going to tell you how you can reach your health goals this year and continue your healthy lifestyle for years to come.
Eating Better
Whether you want to lose weight or maintain the weight you’re at, it all starts with what’s on your plate. A high protein and low carb diet is the most basic diet that is easy to stick to. Your protein should be lean, such as turkey or chicken, and you want to eat complex carbs, such as starchy vegetables and beans as opposed to simple carb pasta and cereals. You also want to make sure you are eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Try juicing or making a smoothie for breakfast or a snack if you’re not too fond of fruits or vegetables.
Getting in Shape
If you are not already working out on a regular basis, you want to ease into a workout regimen. If you want to start running, first walk around your neighborhood a couple times, then alternate between walking and jogging. What you’re doing is conditioning your body and your muscles to get used to the movement. Once you’re comfortable with jogging, you can slowly build up to a run.
Remember, if you’re just starting out, don’t be discouraged if you can only run for five minutes straight. The fact that you’re out there and you’re putting in the time to workout shows your dedication to your health and that’s what matters. Ideally, you should be exercising about 3 to 5 times a week depending on the intensity of your workout. To avoid putting working out on the backburner, create a realistic and specific workout schedule.
Finding the Workout Routine for You
Just because everyone around you is into yoga or cycling doesn’t mean you have to be. You’re more likely to keep up with working out if you actually enjoy it, so find something that interests you and fits into your lifestyle. If you don’t have a lot of time to squeeze in a workout, high intensity interval training or HIIT workouts may be for you. Have a gym membership? Attend different classes until you find one you like. If you played sports as a kid, maybe you’d want to join an adult team sport league.
Body weight resistance exercises are perfect to do at home—you don’t even need a single piece of equipment. Try these 50 body weight resistance exercises for a full-body workout. Whatever form of exercise you choose, make sure you do it regularly and change it when boredom hits.
Keeping Up With Your Appointments
Staying on top of doctor, dental and eye appointments is important to make sure you are properly taking care of your body. By scheduling your appointments at the same time every year, you’re less likely to forget. Once a year, you should get a physical, have your eyes checked and visit a gynecologist. Go to a dentist twice a year to get a teeth cleaning and check for cavities. And don’t forget to have these other exams done as well. Before you leave the clinic, schedule your next appointment and put a reminder in your phone or planner so you don’t forget. Some places will even ask you if you would like them to email, call or text you about your upcoming appointment.
Tell Your Friends and Family
Let your friends and family know about your health goals so they can hold you accountable. Let them know what your goal is for that day or that week. Maybe you might even find a partner, so you can share your goals and help each other along the way. They can be your cheerleaders and your voice of reason when you’re in a workout slump. Having their support will keep you motivated and you can always turn to them for encouragement or advice. You can also use Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to document your progress or find people who have similar goals.
Getting healthy does not happen overnight. It takes hours of exercising, practicing healthy eating and keeping a positive mindset. Just take it one day at a time and by this time next year, you’ll be healthier, happier and proud that you reached your goals. You can reach your health goals, in fact you can reach any goal this year with some hard work, perseverance and believing in yourself!
Feature Photo via We Heart It