How many times do people say they plan on losing weight in the New Year, only to find that their bad eating habits and stationary lifestyles eventually creep back? Adopting huge changes in behavior and sticking to them is difficult. How does one stay motivated? With sensible, doable exercise and diet plans.
Planning Your Diet - Identify the Primary Motivation
Why adopt a diet plan and lose weight or exercise? The reasons may vary from person to person. The important thing is to identify a motivating factor. Here are a few good reasons to make healthy living a priority in the New Year:
- Look better
- Feel better
- Add quality years to life
- Be a role model for the kids
- Enjoy a higher energy level
- Lower cholesterol or blood pressure
- Save money on food
Once a key reason to diet and exercise has been identified, write it down on slips of paper and display in strategic locations around the house, office and car. These will be visible reminders of the daily efforts to stick with the New Year diet plans.
New Year Diet Plans - Adopt Healthy Eating Habits
These helpful and simple ideas will go a long way to improving diet patterns and adopting a healthier lifestyle in the New Year.
Gradually introduce diet changes - The body and mind are resistant to big changes that happen all at once. Try starting with small changes in daily diet plans such as cutting down on meal portions, replacing a cookie snack with bulky, sweet fruit, or eliminating soda. One may also try cooking with healthier oils such as canola and olive oil. These modifications may seem tiny, but they add up to big calorie savings.
Drink lots of water - Water is an important element of any successful diet. It is recommended that everyone drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily. This will help to stave off hunger and illness as well.
Replace processed snacks with healthier alternatives – Processed foods are full of preservatives that are unhealthy, and usually full of sugar, salt, and/or saturated fat. Also, they are expensive. Try eliminating these bad-for-you foods from your diet. Instead, eat baby carrots or celery sticks dipped in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, apple slices with sugar and cinnamon, popcorn, or a slices of low fat cheese.
Stop eating so much at night – Choose one simple snack and one drink to have at night while watching TV or answering your e-mail.
Important Part of the Diet Plan - Start Up an Exercise Routine
Consult the family physician in order to identify the right type of exercise that will work for you. Many workout clubs will also have personal trainers that can be very supportive. As with alterations to diet, changes in activity levels need to happen slowly. These tips may also help to keep the resolution on the right track.
Get an exercise buddy - Exercising is easier with a friend because there is an additional incentive in keeping a commitment with someone else.
Exercise at your best time of day – Sticking with the exercise plan will be most successful if it is done at a time of day that is best for you. Getting up at five o’clock in the morning to run on the treadmill may be a great way to get started for one who is a morning person but may not be so good for someone who’s energy is higher at night.
Don’t overdo it – Overzealous exercise can cause injury, and injury can stop a resolution in its tracks.
It takes at least twelve weeks to develop new habits. It is possible to adopt a healthy exercise and diet plans without becoming overwhelmed and giving up. Make this year a healthy one by understanding what your primary motivation is, and gradually introducing the necessary changes to achieve your New Year’s diet planning goal.
Karen Plumley - Karen Plumley is a writer specializing in parenting and education. She works for Parenting NH and the Hippo, NH's most widely read ...
