By Alexa Cyr, Miss Houston’s Outstanding Teen 2018
After stuffing yourself with holiday treats and all of that delicious eggnog it can be difficult to get back to a normal, healthy eating and workout routine. Feeling sluggish, having gained five pounds, and forgetting what it feels like to run on the treadmill can make that New Year’s resolution a seemingly insurmountable goal. However, if one follows these tips to stick to that New Year’s resolution, getting back into gear and staying consistent throughout the year will be much more manageable.
It’s not easy going back to grilled chicken and broccoli after enjoying the guilty pleasures of holiday meals and treats, so, check out these three easy tips to help you stay healthy throughout 2018:
Tip 1: Planning Your Meals
The first tip is to be creative with healthy meals and to meal-prep. Using different spices, adding a variety of vegetables, and maybe getting inspiration from foreign cuisine can make the time spent cooking enjoyable. Websites like muscleandfitness.com have great, creative recipes for healthy meals! Also, don’t be afraid to try out new ingredients. A new, nutritious experiment could become a favorite.
Meal-prepping is also a great way to ensure there won’t be any last minute fast food stops. Take one free morning per week and use that free time to plan and prepare your meals for the coming week. This suppresses the temptation to go out for a calorie-heavy meal, knowing that there is already something healthy waiting at home. Cooking food at home allows you to control every ingredient added, ensuring a more healthy outcome.
“Everything in moderation” is truly a motto to live by. Make sure not to have too much of one thing, because no matter what its health benefits are, no meal is effective in excess.
If one follows these tips to stick to that New Year’s resolution, getting back into gear and staying consistent throughout the year will be much more manageable.
Tip 2: Workout with a Purpose
The next tip is to workout with a purpose in mind. World-renowned fitness expert and former Miss Fitness Olympia, Monica Brant, likes to encourage those who are seeking to improve their exercise routines by saying, “Make realistic goals that can be measured, dated, and attained!” She also suggests keeping a “journey journal” to show progress from beginning to end, as it is hard to see the daily changes. Ask yourself: What distinct changes would you like to see? How many pounds would you like to lose? Setting measurable goals means being specific.
When working out, spot reducing (losing fat in one area) is not possible, but a mixture of cardio and weight training specific areas of the body is the key to an overall lean and toned body. It may be hard to see results at first, but keeping track weekly, then seeing the difference between where you are now compared to six weeks ago could be shocking. With a dedicated routine, a dramatic change is possible in as little as three months.
Tip 3: Self-Care
Last and most certainly not least, take care of your body by drinking a lot of water and getting plenty of sleep. These two things are a lot easier said than done nowadays. A hectic work schedule and late nights at the office can mean that it is nearly impossible to get enough sleep, but according to everydayhealth.com, the average 26 to 60-year-old needs seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Getting enough sleep means you will be more motivated to go to the gym even after or before a long day of work. Workouts are most definitely not as effective when one is sleep deprived, and forcing your body to do what it physically cannot do is unhealthy under any circumstance.
If you are finding yourself feeling sluggish and you are getting appropriate amounts of sleep, you may simply be dehydrated. Dehydration not only causes one to feel tired, but it can lead to ailments such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, etc… Unfortunately, dehydration can also lead us to think that we’re hungry, when in fact, it may just be thirst. This sensation may cause one to overeat and gain weight. According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended amount of fluids per day is 15.5 cups for men, and 11.5 cups for women (these recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages, and food).
The two most common New Year’s resolutions people made last year were to stay fit and healthy, and to lose weight, according to a Nielsen survey. As concepts, they’re excellent, but as goals, they’re amorphous and immeasurable, says muscleandfitness.com. Always remember, working out and eating healthy is a lifestyle! To see the results and change you want, it takes time, hard work, and commitment. Your body will thank you for it. And finally, remember that motto: “everything in moderation.”
Author: Alexa Cyr, Miss Houston’s Outstanding Teen 2018
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