It's around this time every year that TV shows, radio shows, magazines, ect. stop talking about the hottest gifts and start talking about "New Years Resolutions."
I don't mean this post to end up being a downer or a guilt trip, but I have never met a single person in my life that has stuck with their "New Years Resolution"...I'm not a huge fan of this time of year [for the NY resolutions, that is]. Although, I will be excited to have packed fitness classes...hmmm :)
Props to them for getting in the right frame of mind...for a short amount of time. The thing that makes this a "not-so-exciting" time of year to me...the excuses of why people stop pursuing their resolutions. I'm all about people wanting to be healthier and more fit, don't get me wrong! More power to ya!
But the..."I got busy. I don't have time. I can't do it financially. I'm not seeing any progress. Not this, not that, can't do this, can't do that..." YADA YADA shpeels are exhausting.
Well folks, for one, one is NEVER that "busy"—people just choose to say that because it makes an excuse.
No time? I sacrificed a part time job that paid very well (bartending) to spend more time at the gym. I miss the extra cash coming in, but honestly, my body doesn't...it appreciates the attention I've paid to it—and the good amount of sleep I've gotten since I stopped staying up until 3AM.
Not seeing progress? Progress takes TIME. That's the thing humans don't think they have anymore. My boyfriend and I were talking over the weekend about how a week is a long amount of time. Seven days of 24 hours...It's how wisely people spend this time! There's a meme floating around out there that says something like it takes four weeks for you to notice change, your friends—eight weeks, and the rest of the world—twelve. STICK WITH IT! Make it a habit or a lifestyle!
I was just talking this morning about how pants I bought in July barely fit me anymore...I had already been down quite a bit then, but now...i'm down even more. I didn't think I could get any more "fit." Since making time for myself, paying attention to my body and what goes in it, and spending all the TIME I could at the gym (plus getting a good amount of sleep each night)—I am stunned at what's happened. I LOVE IT!
Here's what people need to remember during the holiday season...
Focus
How many times have you gone back from holidays with a “spare tyre” around your waist? I know I have done it a few times! Words “healthy holiday eating” is something not very often seen in the same sentence. Even though your diet would otherwise be pretty healthy, holidays seem to be a world of their own. When going away from your normal daily routines, it can be excessively difficult to maintain the healthy habits. The most often heard excuse for letting loose on the holiday is that that is the time to really enjoy life and have fun.
Inspiration
It doesn’t have to be like that, though. It’s possible to enjoy holidays AND stay in shape at the same time! What if having fun and enjoying life on a holiday would actually include healthy holiday eating? For the past years, whenever I have been on holiday and travelled to a new place, I frequently put a lot of effort into finding restaurants that serve healthy, organic food in the destination where I’m going. I take healthy holiday eating as a one kind of challenge, I spend time to find those places and give them a try. And boy have I found some great places along the way! I also always take some protein or healthy snack bars, selection of nuts or dried fruit with me to keep energetic day in day out.
Take Action
So, the next time you’re on holiday, take this challenge! Stay active, eat well and stay healthy. Include healthy holiday eating into your agenda and you’ll be rewarded. It is the most amazing feeling to feed your body with nutrient-rich food and to be able to enjoy the holiday to the fullest, without worrying about gaining weight or feeling tired after a bad meal.
I also found this Holiday Survival Guide that could be very helpful reminders of how to avoid holiday weight gain. They're simple steps & you'll feel so much better post-holiday if you stick with them!
I would love nothing more than to help people better themselves...and a lot of people wait until this time of year to do so...I just don't know of a way to have people actually follow through with their goals [longer than 1–2 or 3 months].
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