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Target Acquired: Setting Goals for Exercising in 2014

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running up stairsAh, the month of January. The time of  year when hope and enthusiasm abounds, especially when it comes to an exercise program.  This is it. This is the month when the battle cries of “I’m going to lose weight!”  or  ”I’m going to eat healthier!”  or even the classic “I’m going to get into better shape!”  are heard throughout the land.

Are those battle cries real?  Do they hold any sincerity?  Of course they do-but only for a time.   Just ask those same people come March or April of this year.  Chances are their battle cries for a healthy lifestyle might be a lot less vigorous. I know mine were.  If you want to set goals-  real ones that you can stick to in your exercise program, here are a few hints to help you out.

Hint #1:  Be Specific

Vagueness is your enemy, especially when it comes to getting healthy.  Simply saying that you want to lose weight is like saying someday I might want to go the Arizona.   It’s all well and good to say that– but where in Arizona do you want to go?  Tempe is a lot different than Mesa, you know.  Instead of saying “I want to lose weight”  say “I want to lose fifty pounds by the end of April and another sixty by the end of August.”  By being specific, you’ll create for yourself something real, something tangible that is much easier to hold onto.

Hint #2: Be Flexible

Personally, I love the outdoors- running, hiking, playing sports, rock climbing are just a few of the activities I enjoy.  If it’s outside and involving an elevated heart rate, I’m there. Unfortunately for me, that kind of exercise simply doesn’t cut it for weight loss. I need strength and weight training.  So while I’ll still do the various forms of exercise I love, I also add in a bit of weight training to help with the whole turning fat into muscle plan I have.  Bottom line is you need to be flexible. What works for someone else may not work for you, and what worked before might not work now. Don’t be afraid to switch things up a bit from time to time.  You’ll be glad you did.

Hint # 3:  Make a Sacrifice or Two

I know- this is not something that many people wish to hear, but it needs saying.  Setting and reaching your goals, especially when it comes to health will take some sacrifices.  Over the last few months  I’ve had to give up gluten- that pesky yet very tasty wheat protein and my body’s reaction to it was essentially destroying me from the inside out and making me very, very, sick.   It came down essentially to the choice of giving up stuff like whole wheat breads, pastas, bagels and many sauces or continue eating them and living a life of pain.  For some odd reason, I chose to give up gluten.

Here’s the thing though- I still crave bread.  I still want to have my morning bagel with cream cheese.  Each time that basket of rolls is passed around I have to make the decision to not take one.  Sure I could sneak one in, tell myself that just one won’t matter, but I know the truth.  The truth is that it does matter.  

When it comes to your health, you need to be honest with yourself.  What sacrifices are you willing to make?  What things are you willing to change to make yourself better?  The choice is entirely up to you.  If you like how things are, then do nothing.  If you want to make a real change, achieve some real goals then begin with you.


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