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News & Events Calendar of Events |
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Rethinking Resolution
Many of us approach a new year with a personal pact to better ourselves in one way or another. Perhaps it’s a general goal like “be healthier”, or something more specific such as “lose 20 pounds.” Though we ought to applaud ourselves for the desire to improve our lives and our health, we need to find a motivation other than the start of a new year, and make a plan to reach our goal. Without that real motivation and without a plan, we may be doomed to succumb to the habits that pushed us to make that resolution in the first place. First, decide why you want a particular goal, other than it having an obvious start date. If you want to lose weight just for the sake of not weighing what you weigh now, it’s a harder sell, especially since weight loss takes a considerable amount of effort. If it’s part of a plan to ward off the family history of heart disease or diabetes, get off blood pressure medication, run a 5K, or be able to chase your kids around without getting out of breath – then you have a deeper reason. The point here is: you have to truly want it, and be ready to do what it takes to get it. It’s important to find resources to help you reach a goal. If you want to improve your diet, invest in a few hours with a Registered Dietitian rather than tearing a diet out of a magazine or picking up a book on the latest fad. Smoking is a shackle that is very tough to escape – is cold turkey really going to work this time? Talk to your doctor about it, talk to your family and friends about it, and make sure that you have the support you need to kick the habit for good. For some, accountability is a great motivator, and someone to “have your back” makes it feel like the team is pulling for you. Suppose your goal is to “lose 20 pounds.” Are you ready to take on the long term lifestyle changes that accompany a significant change in your body? It goes beyond joining a fitness center – the easiest part of the resolution. Once you are there, do you know what to do to reach that goal? If not, consider joining a fitness center that has personal trainers on staff. Often, there are a few complimentary orientations to get you comfortable with the equipment, and once you are familiar with it, employ the services of a trainer to assist you in reaching the 20 pound weight loss. Changing your body takes more than 20 minutes of treadmill walking and a quick loop through the weight circuit, and it also takes time. The great part is, when the good changes start to happen, and they will happen quickly, you’ll never want to look back. Remember, long term lifestyle changes take time and effort. Determine your goal, and decide what support you need to reach it. Sure, there will be slip ups and times when you fall off the path, but the key this time is to just step back on and keep going. Thankfully the payoff is sweeter than the effort to make it happen, and once you set your goal, go for it! Melissa Ondesko is a Registered Dietician as well as a Fitness Professional with more than 15 years in the industry. She currently works as the Fitness Director at the Center for Fitness and Health. Forcing myself to take baby steps towards a healthier lifestyle has evolved into great strides I never thought possible. My personal goal of strengthening my injured back has resulted in pain free living, strong mental attitude, the bonus of weight loss, and a new community of friends all sharing the same long term goals. I’m confident I will never return to a sedentary lifestyle.
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