Ten health resolutions to make in 2014
IT’S a new year, which means it’s the ideal time to make a fresh start. When it comes to your health, make sure you’re making the right resolutions.
1. Give up dieting
If you’ve been on a fad diet more times than Kanye West has made an idiot of himself in public then that’s one diet too many. Being hyper vigilant about what you eat and constantly worrying whether you’ve exceeded your calorie intake for the day gets exhausting and isn’t sustainable in the long term. Naturopath Mim Beim says it’s best to avoid overcomplicating things when it comes to your diet. “Just develop a few simple rules that you know you can follow and stick to them,” she says.
2. Sign up for a fitness event
If you don’t challenge yourself on a regular basis when it comes to your training regime then you will get bored. It’s when boredom kicks in that you will be tempted to skip training. To combat this, pick a fitness event a level above what you’re capable of doing and start training for it. Whether that’s an obstacle course event or doing a local fun run, have a fitness goal to work towards to keep you motivated.
Commit to a fitness goal. Source: News Limited
3. Don’t eat when you’re stressed or angry
After a stressful day, sometimes the only thing that will make you feel better is a nice family block of Dairy Milk and some trashy reality TV. Unfortunately ploughing into a bar of chocolate to deal with stress will only make things worse. “Stress chemicals such as adrenalin and cortisol really affect your digestion” Beim says. “There’s basically less blood going to your digestive system and it shuts it down. For some people it will cause constipation and for some it will even cause diarrhoea. Be aware of your mood when you’re eating and try to eat when you’re more calm.”
More: Sign up for the body+soul revolution here.
4. Have a fitness support network
Be accountable to someone when it comes to exercise. Personal trainer Kirsty Welsh says, “If you’re doing it on your own it’s so easy to find excuses but if you’ve got a trainer or a group of friends you’re training with they’re going to kick your arse if you’re not there.”
Healthy eating with friends is so much easier. Source: News Limited
5. Do more cooking at home
Being on a first-name basis with the local takeaway joint is never a good thing. Aim to cook more at home this year. Yes, we know it’s the last thing you probably feel like doing at the end of a long day but plan ahead and it won’t be such a torturous process. Nutritionist Lisa Guy says to “write a list of the meals you are going to make for the week so you are organised with the ingredients.” To make it fun, pick one new recipe to try each week so you don’t fall into a food rut.
6. Train four or more days a week
If you’re just starting out, exercising three times a week is fine. However Welch says ideally you should be aiming for a minimum of four days of training a week to get the most out of exercise. “I think everyone can schedule 45 minutes of training into their day even if they have to go to bed earlier and wake up a littler earlier,” says Welch.
7. Always have healthy food options on hand
If your kitchen cupboard is the poster child for unhealthy eating, give it a spring clean. If you want to eat healthy, then only have healthy food options on hand. Simple. Guy says it’s not having the healthy food choices to begin with that causes people to fall off the wagon. If the bag of chips isn’t there, then you’re more likely to reach for a snack from the fruit bowl.
More: Sign up for the body+soul revolution here.
Stock up on healthy snack options at the supermarket. Source: Supplied
8. Avoid the all or nothing mentality
Go too hard and you will end up going home. “We want the quick fix and it’s not a lifestyle change. So people go too hard too quickly and they pull up sore and it’s too hard to go back the next day,” Welch says. “The number one key to any fitness regime is consistency. If you go too hard you can’t be consistent; your body needs to rest and recover.”
9. Aim to train in the morning
“The most dedicated fit people train in the morning. Otherwise it’s too easy to make up an excuse,” Welch says. Set the alarm and tick training off your to-do list nice and early.
10. Use social media as a motivational tool
You might think it’s cheesy but don’t be afraid to go to town with inspirational quotes and pictures. To make it even easier, follow inspirational fitness and health accounts on Instagram. Every time you check your phone you’ll quickly be met with a barrage of images of healthy meals, toned bodies and inspirational quotes to remind you what you’re aiming for.