New Year New Me! We all love saying that don’t we, and for good reason. Restarting the calendar fills us not only with a new sense of hope, but with a renewed sense of purpose. We all have health goals that we want to achieve, whether it be to lose weight, improve our overall health, or both. Despite our best intentions though, It can be tough to stay motivated and on track. But with a little bit of planning and determination, you can achieve your goal of a healthier lifestyle. So today we are going to go over some easy to follow methods to help you reach your health goals and live life to the fullest!
Set Specific and Achievable Goals
Instead of setting a vague goal like “I want to lose weight,” try setting a specific and achievable goal like “I want to lose 10 pounds in the next 3 months by exercising for 30 minutes a day and eating a healthy diet.” Setting specific, safe, and achievable goals gives you a clear target to work towards, and helps you track your progress along the way. For example, if you want to lose weight, you might set a goal to walk 10,000 steps a day and eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, as well as avoiding excess sugar. Little steps go a long way, but they go even longer when you know exactly what your goal is. And seeing the progress coming in slowly but surely is not only safe and sustainable, but it is encouraging. It is much easier to keep our hopes up when we see our wins stacking up!
Find a Form of Physical Activity you Enjoy
Exercise is an important part of any weight loss or health improvement journey, but it’s important to find a form of physical activity that you actually enjoy. If you hate running, don’t force yourself to go for a run every day. Instead, try something that you look forward to doing, like dancing or swimming. The key is to find something that you enjoy, so it doesn’t feel like a chore. As it is, we always find ways to make time for the things we can enjoy, so why not take the same approach here.
Don’t Skip Meals
Skipping meals might seem like a quick fix to lose weight, but it’s actually counterproductive in the long run. Not only does it slow down your metabolism, but it also leads to overeating later on. More to the point, it is not a safe way of losing weight. For example, if you skip breakfast, you might be more likely to snack on unhealthy foods later in the day. Instead, try to eat regular, well-balanced meals throughout the day to keep your energy levels up and your cravings at bay.
Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated is important for your overall health, and it can also help you lose weight. Water can help fill you up, so you’re less likely to eat more than you need. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and more if you’re exercising.
Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself
It’s important to be committed to your health goals, but it’s also important to be kind to yourself. All too often, people on weight loss journeys tend to give up hope after an indulgence, but it’s those little treats that actually can help keep the dream alive. It’s okay to have the occasional indulgence or to miss a workout, as long as you get back on track as soon as possible. For example, if you indulge in a piece of cake at a birthday party, don’t beat yourself up about it. Just make sure to get back on track with your healthy eating habits the next day. Remember, progress is rarely a straight line, and it’s important to celebrate the small victories along the way.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is important for your physical and mental health. Mentally, sleep deprivation can affect our mood by making us more anxious and irritable. Physically, it makes us too tired to move, and has been linked to high blood pressure and diabetes. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep a night and try to establish a consistent bedtime routine.
Manage Stress
Stress is one of the few things in our life that we want less of. It makes every other activity in our lives seem so much more difficult, and that is especially true when it comes to our interactions with others. Additionally, chronic stress can lead to weight gain, so it’s important to find ways to manage it, and take care of our emotional well-being. Try techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing to help reduce stress.
Surround Yourself With Supportive People
It’s much easier to reach your health goals when you have the support of others. Surround yourself with friends and family who are supportive of your journey and consider joining a support group or hiring a coach to help keep you accountable and motivated. For example, if you have a friend who is also trying to lose weight, you can motivate each other to stick to your goals and offer support and encouragement along the way.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
When all is said and done, weight loss falls under the category of medical science. By seeking the help of trained professionals, you not only have better resources to succeed, but the support structure and care you need to continue building better habits. Building and sustaining these habits into the new year and beyond is essential to keep the momentum going in the new year! The professionals at Olivera Weight Loss have over 40 years of experience in helping people reduce their weight to a healthy BMI, in a clinically proven and medically safe way, and with the means to help their patients keep it off.