When a new year begins, it is a time when many people are encouraged to set a fitness or nutrition goal. However, as time progresses, it is easy to fall off the wagon and return to old habits. Does this sound like you?
Did you start 2014 with the best intentions, a shiny new gym membership, and a refrigerator full of fruits and veggies? And now you are back to eating fast food, or your running shoes are collecting dust in the corner? If you have fallen off the wagon, don’t think that you have to wait until next January to achieve your goals.
Read ahead for a few ideas to help you get back on track with the fitness goals you set at the beginning of the year and accomplish what you set out to do originally.
The Buddy System
Having a network of support is a great way to sustain accountability. Joining with other friends who are trying to live healthier and lose weight will make it simpler to stick to a diet plan. For instance, it is easier to wake up for some early exercise when a friend is waiting to join. When temptation arises, a friend will be there to keep things on the right path as well.
You can join a specific class at your local gym and sign up with friends so that you are more motivated to go. Working out is more fun if you can chat and hang out with your friends while you do it, so find an exercise buddy right away!
The Grocery Store is Your Friend
A large amount of people fall off the fitness wagon because of fast food. It is extremely convenient to munch on drive-thru food on a regular basis instead of cooking at home. However, preparing recipes in the kitchen will allow you to control ingredients and portion sizes.
Grocery shopping for healthy food choices and snacks will help to prevent eating junk food or other items that contain empty calories. This can be tough when you have a busy schedule, but all it takes is some planning.
Plan out a time to go to the grocery store—if you come home to a house with no dinner, you’re more likely to hit the drive-thru. Go to the store with a list, so that you can ensure you get healthy ingredients for dinners that can help you reach your fitness goals.
Keep a Food Journal
It is easy to become frustrated because dieting does not always result in fast weight loss. It can also be upsetting when a few pounds are lost and quickly regained. To avoid quitting, it may be useful to begin a food journal. Writing down everything that is consumed each day will help analyze where things may be going wrong.
It may reveal where hidden calories exist. For example, a handful of chips or an extra piece of candy may not seem like a diet buster, but they can add up over time. Sometimes, we don’t even realize what we are eating, and this is where the extra pounds come from. Once you start writing down and analyzing everything that you eat, you may be stunned at some of the things you put into your body.
Seek Professional Assistance
Sometimes, having the support of your friends and family isn’t enough to help you achieve your personal goals. After dieting continues to fail, it may be wise to seek the help of an expert. A nutritionist may be able to assess a your individual situation regarding medical and psychological circumstances.
This will help develop a customized meal plan and exercise routine to gain success at reaching fitness goals.
When it comes to exercising, professionals who specialize in fitness therapy suggest that you enlist the help of a personal trainer to show you how to best exercise for your body and health needs. If you have specific aches, pains, or problem areas where you can’t seem to lose weight or get in shape, a personal trainer can show you what stretches, exercises, and machines to use in order to get on the right track for you personally.
It can be very challenging to set a fitness goal and follow through with success. Losing weight or eating healthier is a long process. The above tips will help along the journey. In the end, it is possible to make permanent lifestyle changes and successfully reach the New Year’s resolution of better health or weight loss.
It’s not too late to achieve the goals you set for yourself fat the beginning of the New Year! Get back to your goals and make a plan so that you don’t lose steam when the road gets tough.
