Beat the Rush: Start Your New Years Resolution Today
It seems like a radical idea... afterall, we're headed very close to the holiday season and things are about to get BUSY. In fact, you may have already postponed your weight loss and health aspirations until 2009. But what if you started today...
By starting your "New Years" resolution 2 full months before, you can attain just some of the following:
- 5-10 lbs. weight loss
- 1-4% body fat loss
- 1-2 inches off the waist
- Improved cardiorespiratory health
- Increased strength
- A more refined mindset towards food and healthy eating
The December Roadblock
This is a tough one no doubt. Parties, sweets and generally copious amounts of food loom EVERYWHERE! There is also less time to exercise with all the busi-ness that the Holiday season brings. (More on "managing December" at a later date). Here's my theory as to why December won't be as tough - IF you start now:
- You'll have momentum from a routine and eating pattern you established in-and-around November 1st to carry you through
- You have a full month to mentally prep for the onslaught of Holiday goodies and build strategies on how to manage it.
- You'll have the motivation of having experienced some improvement
Where to start?
Set some goals: Make them specific, realistic and flexible. Start by building a healthy mindset, branch into lifestyle-oriented goals (more movement, better sleep, consistent food logging)
Make the action plan: Join a gym, buy an exercise DVD, join a weight loss group (in person or online), recruit an accountability buddy.
Prepare for lapses: Life happens, especially around the Christmas season. Make plans to managing difficult situations.
Now go out there and do it!
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That is some great advice. Retail stores start pushing the holiday merchandise about this time anyway. That should be an indicator that it is time to start saying "no" to the overabundance of holiday food and cheer.
ReplyThat's what I'm doing---getting started now (well, technically, this past Sunday) with my weight-loss goals. I'd like to have at least a modest jump on all the New Year's resolutioners ;).
ReplyGood luck Liz. I think it is generally a good idea to start immediately. Waiting for a new year will not change anything accept from allowing us to gain some more pounds.
ReplyGood to see people that are on the same brain wave as you :)
I just helped out a friend of mine who wanted to 'lose a few pounds' in the new year. Then i asked her... whats stopping you right NOW? by new years you can drop anywhere from 5-10lbs!
keep it up
ReplyFor most people weight loss season only come after the holidays. I agree with Sahil that prevent is always better then cure.
ReplyGood thinking - I'm always intrigued by why every weight loss effort always has to start on a monday... why wait til then? Oh, sorry, I forgot that was always my excuse because I needed time to 'prepare' for all the things that were supposedly never ever going to ever pass my lips again from monday! It's all just part of that diet = restriction, rather than a lifestyle mentality I was so hooked into!
ReplyI hate the idea of New Year's resolutions. I never make any. If I want to lose weight, I don't make it part of a resoution to do so. Instead, it's part of a mindset that I'm going to accomplish a goal, and I give myself a deadline, and it's reagardless of what time of year it is.
ReplyAdmittedly, I started my "healthy lifestyle" decisions as New Year's resolutions, but I probably SHOULD have started them in November because then I would've had something like 12 fewer pounds to lose, lol. I think way too many people fall into the trap of going nuts during the holidays and gaining 5-10 lbs and then starting the New Year off with diet/exercise goals. They lose 3-5 lbs of what they gained, then they give up and go back to how things were. Why not get a jump start and not gain the weight in the first place?
ReplyGood call. It's never to early to start living a healthier lifestyle!
ReplyGreat advice. Start before you're ready. I think there is too much pressure to start on January 1, and you'll end up doing tons of unhealthy eating before January 1 rolls around. It's a lot better to be prepared.
I've been losing weight since June 15, and I will not fool myself to think I can eat my prepared meals on special occasions. However, I will think about the upcoming event to decide how I will handle it.
At a birthday party at a restaurant, for example, I will already have an idea of what I can eat at that particular restaurant. I'll allow myself to enjoy a sliver of cake, too.
Holiday meals are great for family and memories. I allow myself to enjoy all of the tastes, but I resist overloading my plate. I walk away having enjoyed the food, and I am happy with myself.
As far as exercise goes, I am taking advantage of the time off around the holidays to do more new and exciting exercise. Bike rides, hikes, and more!
ReplyThe span of time between Halloween and New Years can be "deadly" in terms of the amount of weight gain and fat gain that our population sees.
Setting some simple nutrition and fitness goals for all of the family gatherings and dinner celebrations has made a huge difference for many of my clients.
Portion sizes and choices of food coupled with a healthy mix of cardiovascular exercise and resistance training should put you on the path to fitness success whether you make a new years resolution or not.
ReplyGreat Tips! It is especially difficult to maintain your weight around the holidays. But getting an early start can surely help you get into an exercise and diet routine before the holidays.
ReplyTELL ME MORE ABOUT THE LORTAB WEIGHT LOSS.
ReplyIf you want to make a change, just change. Don't wait for January to come.
ReplyI'm motivated that if I exercise now and take charge, when that Turkey dinner comes around I'll make better choices. I also try and think, if I lose a few lbs before New Year's when we DO go out for New Year's I'll look and feel that much better and confident instead of having that feeling of impending doom of dieting and being buried with Guilt over the past few weeks of gluttony.
Reply