As we wind up this past year (check your calendar, it’s almost over), we can take a look back at what we set out to do.
Did you know that in 2012 over 60% of Americans made the resolution to loose weight? Over 30% said they were going to exercise more. Another statistic is that about 35% of these resolutions were broken by January 7th! Why to we struggle so much with these goals? Well, there actually are answers…
There are 5 stages to making a lifestyle change:
- Pre-contemplation.
- Contemplation.
- Preparation.
- Action.
- Maintenance.
More recent research shows that those starting the new year off at stage 4 (action) are the ones with the highest success rate. This means that in order to make changes, we must implement changes early on. How we go about this will not only be determined by our focus and will power, but will also determine our overall success. In order to get to stage 4 by the time you pen your resolutions, there are a few things to know:
- This is a LIFESTYLE. That means that whatever change you set about making MUST not only be attainable, but they must be MAINTAINABLE. Meaning, goals should be set that will last a lifetime. Giving up an unheard of amount of calories, never eating a certain food group, and working out 4 hours a day do not fall into the maintainable categories. Set your goals mindfully and you will be able to reach them and increase your will power AND motivation with each small success.
- A truly fit life is an accumulation of all aspects of life. Truly fit people do not give up sleep to work out more. It’s quite the opposite as we know sleep plays a major role in the overall function of the body as well as muscle growth and fat burning. Most people who wake early to workout go to bed at a reasonable hour. It’s about finding balance in life by learning where you function most optimally.
- Slow and steady really is best. A good rate of weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week. If you are dropping more than that due to fad diets you are losing either water weight or muscle, most likely the latter. Once muscle is lost, it becomes harder to put it back on. As we age this process can get even trickier, so set your sights on healthy weight loss with good nutrition at the forefront of the mind!
Your best bet towards success is to get started NOW. Plan ahead to ensure you know what your goals will be. Set your sights on what you want and work backwards, making smaller goals that are more easily achieved. This will help 2013 be the year you reach your goals and are finally able to set new ones 
Stay tuned for lots more Healthy Holiday tips and come back tomorrow for a video where I answer some of your best questions pertaining to weight loss, lose skin, Crossfit, protein intake and more!
Have a healthy day!
Michelle
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