THE RESOLUTION CONFUSION

Usually towards the end of December every year, you’ll hear talk of diets and gyms and workouts. This goes in line with other so called resolutions like quitting smoking and saving more money.
If you read these articles you know I’m not immune to saying what is on my mind. So here it goes.

I fail to accept the fact that people resolve to do things they should have been doing all along just because it is the beginning of the year.

Now with that said, here is my issue. Since this is all about fitness, I will use diet as an example. A new year is days away, so you may come to the conclusion that you’re going to undertake a healthier lifestyle come the first of January. That is commendable. There are two flaws to this plan.

1. Be it the last week of December or earlier, if you are serious about making a change then the time is now. This is not doubting your change but the realization is that things can and do change. The problem with doing something like this around holiday time is you are surrounded by food and excess. It is not your fault, that’s just the way the holiday season works. Going from poor eating habits, to a holiday feast, then immediately to clean and healthy living may be a shock.

A much better approach is to get on track as early as October or November. Still enjoy your Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, but all the other days attempt to make small changes. Cut out sugary drinks, limit unhealthy snacks, cook more at home, etc.

2. Making up your mind to change your unhealthy ways the last week of December isn’t enough time. There is the chance that you are versed in fitness and nutrition and this will not be an issue. However the greater majority reading this are not versed in such areas. So the problem is you need a plan. Or more specifically you need a good plan. There are thousands of fad diets that you can partake in. you can find them in a magazine or online and abide by that. But the fad diet will always fail.

If you’re really serious about a change you need to either consult a trainer /nutritional expert, or do your research. It is more involved than just trading in a fast food value meal for a salad.

There are a lot of things you can change to lose weight and get healthy. You must be prepared though.

If you are serious about this, than you need to avoid the fad diet. Sure that several week quick fix may work short term, but these diets always will fail. Then you’re in the cold again either looking for the next diet, or even worse you fall back into unhealthy eating.

What you need is a detailed and long term nutritional approach. To lose weight and keep it lost you need to overhaul your menu. This includes identifying the bad things like simple sugars and modified fats and removing them. You need to learn to read food labels and know what you are eating. Now nobody expects you to become a nutrition expert, but at the same time you need to know the foundation. Anything not built on a foundation will ultimately collapse.

One option you can take right now is looking at the nutrition section of this site. You can also consider some of the personalized training and nutrition services that will be offered here soon.

Another big consideration is the exclusion. I often overhear people say “I’m giving up ___ “(insert your favorite unhealthy food). Or “no more _____.” This is fine except for the fact that I don’t believe you need to exclude such things. I don’t believe in eating bad full time. However I do believe in cheat meals and enjoying the things you like.

It is human nature to desire things. It is also human nature to rebel when your desires are forbidden. That rebellion can lead to a number of issues. You won’t be happy being deprived. Being overweight is not a happy situation for many. On the flip side is losing weight yet feeling deprived better? The answer is a firm NO.

Even in the most strict nutrition plan there is room to include the ice cream, and burgers, and whatever it is you may enjoy. The key is to keep it limited and to let it be a reward. Trust me, I’ve lived eating endless amounts of crap 24/7 and I’ve lived eating clean. I can tell you that a cheat meal amid clean eating will always taste better and be more rewarding than eating that stuff all the time.

It is kind of like a vacation. You can always enjoy something more when you’re not doing it day in day out.

So as you see, there is a lot to be considered when getting healthy. Don’t start easting better because it’s a new year. Don’t eat better because you’re supposed to. Do it because you want to. That’s the key to succeeding.

January, April, July, October, anytime that you are ready to make a change is the right time. Do it because you want to. Furthermore do it when you are ready and prepare properly.

© 2011 BEST FITNESS NOW