submitted by Rebecca Cronk

New Year, new you right? Wrong! The reality is, you are the same you that you were on December 31,  but that doesn’t mean you can’t strive to be a little better going forward. It’s never the wrong time to make positive changes in your life.

A few of the most common New Year’s Resolutions revolve around diet and exercise. It’s certainly no secret that a healthy well-balanced diet, lots of water, good sleep, and regular  exercise offer immeasurable benefits to your physical, mental, and emotional health, so then we can all agree that exercise is medicine but, did you know that statistically almost 35% of all resolutions fail within the first 6 weeks after making them? That’s rather dismal.

Truth is, many people look for ‘the quick fix’ and fall prey to the countless fad diets and  exercise programs that make unrealistic promises.

It’s been said many times before, but it bears repeating; PREPARE TO PLAY THE LONG GAME. Think 3 to 5 years; not 3 to 5 months and, be consistent and honest with yourself. Start with a 75/25 rule with your diet and exercise goals and work your way up to 80/20 or higher.

Join a fitness class, a dance class, or a yoga class. Seek advice from a personal trainer, or get a gym membership. Play your favourite sport. Or, if you want to keep things really simple, just go for a walk. A short but brisk 15 minute walk can boost your brain health, improve your mood and, burn up to 70 calories. If you are able, try taking the stairs instead of the escalator once in a while. There are countless ways to get your body moving and, they don’t have to break the bank.

As for your diet, start with simple changes; substitute your pop with water, take one less sugar in your coffee, use milk instead of cream, replace some processed foods with a few lean  proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Try to make wise choices and remember that small consistent changes over time add up to huge results, and faster than you might think.

So this year, let’s promote evolutions instead of resolutions because evolution suggests slow gradual changes, developments and progress. There is no better time to start so, set  reasonable expectations, buckle up, be consistent, and embrace the journey.

Rebecca is a fitness specialist and owner/operator of Get Cronk’d Fitness Studio. She has an Honours Bachelor of Science with a specialization in human kinetics from the University of Ottawa, is a professional member of the Canadian Society of Physiologists, Exercise is Medicine Canada, Canadian Fitness Professionals, and the Ontario Society for Health and Fitness. Get Cronk’d Fitness Studio is a member of the North Grenville Chamber of Commerce and the Old Town Kemptvile BIA.

 

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