Can you believe its almost 2014 already?! Time flies, my friends. The start of the New Year brings to mind many things: fun parties, midnight kisses, champagne and, of course, our resolutions. The most common New Year’s Resolutions people make usually revolve around health: eating better, losing weight, exercising, beating disease, etc. Many of us are all gung-ho for the first few weeks or so (if we’re lucky), but then motivation starts to wear off, our lives get busier and our good intentions go down the drain. Not this year though – because I’m going to arm you with some simple tips and tricks to stick to your guns in 2014! You ready? Good, let’s do this!
1. Set up a Support Group with Friends
First off, set up a support group with your friends. Most likely some of them have similar goals, so get a system going for you to motivate each other, check in on progress and make each other accountable. In the age of social media, doing this in a public forum like a blog or on Twitter or Facebook will give you even more push as no one wants to fail in front of a lot of people! Set up a hashtag (e.g. #fitness14 or #NYR2014) to use with your buddies so you guys can track each other’s progress and have fun with it at the same time.
2. Start your Exercise Routine Gradually
If getting more exercise is your resolution, start off slow. Trying to jump into a heavy workout routine you aren’t prepared for can just leave you feeling defeated, possibly injured and will most likely discourage you to keep going. Begin with gentle classes or walks/jogs, depending on your level of fitness. Set weekly goals and work up to the more intense stuff. Mix it up too, doing the same exercise over and over gets boring and after awhile it won’t have the same benefits because your body will get used to it. Throw in some dance classes or try one of the trendy new fitness fads like Strip Hop or Pound. Again, enlist your friends. Plan a hiking or walking group that meets once or twice a week so you can exercise and catch up with pals at the same time.
3. Do a Gentle Cleanse with Plant-Based Foods
Focusing more on your diet? Start off the new year with 3 or 5-day juice cleanse to detox and get you off on the right foot. After that add in plant-based whole foods that are high in fiber to keep you feeling full. It’s important to stay hydrated as well and make sure you’re getting a lot of vitamins and minerals to curb those sugar cravings. Planning your meals out can help you avoid binging on snack foods or making a not-so-healthy dinner on the fly.
4. Use a Journal to Track Your Progress
A couple other tips to staying on track with your resolutions are keeping a journal of your progress which is a great self-esteem booster and will give you extra motivation to keep going. Also pick a role model – a person who’s already accomplished what you’re striving toward – and emulate how they succeeded.
I hope these tips help you stay happy and healthy and motivated in the new year. Wishing you all a safe and wonderful start to 2014!
