So many people make New Year’s resolutions to get healthy, and by mid-February about 64% of people are still successful in keeping them. People often set unrealistic goals or jump head-first into resolutions that they haven’t thought all the way through. With such a high failure rate how do you set yourself up for success?
You have to set attainable goals for diet and exercise. Come up with a plan and know the reasons why you are trying to get healthy. Focus on what motivates you every day. This is not about the generic idea of being healthy, it’s about improving your quality of life. Before you embark on your health journey it’s a great idea to get a physical so that you can establish a baseline and know how strenuous your routine can be. Below you will find three great resources that will help guide you through goal setting and give you tips on sticking with it.
Posted by Mind Tools: Essential Skills for an Excellent Career
SMART Goals
To make sure your goals are clear and reachable, each one should be:
- Specific (simple, sensible, significant).
- Measurable (meaningful, motivating).
- Achievable (agreed, attainable).
- Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based).
- Time bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive).
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Posted by Healthline
11 Simple Ways to Adopt a Healthy, Sustainable Eating Pattern
There are tons of tips and tricks that make eating healthy easier, and most of them are simple and free.
Here are 11 of our favorite ways to stick to a healthy diet.
- Eat a diet rich in whole foods
Healthy diets come in all shapes and sizes, but most of them are centered on nutrient-dense, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein. - Think twice before you crash diet
Crash dieting might help you lose weight quickly, but that’s not always healthy. Plus, there’s no guarantee the results will last. - Lean on professionals to get started
Working with a trained professional provides a support system to lean on. It likewise ensures you’re getting accurate and up-to-date information about healthy eating, as well as how to best stick with it.
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Posted by WebMD
12 Tips to Help You Stick With Exercise
It's easy to talk yourself out of exercising. Even when you have the best intentions to work out, excuses are so easy to find -- “I’m too tired,” or "I’m busy," or "The weather is bad."
The right attitude and a few tricks can keep your fitness routine on track. Use these tips to stay in the game:
- Do it for yourself. Studies show that people who are "externally motivated" -- that is, they hit the gym just to look good at your class reunion -- don't stick with it. Those who are "internally motivated" -- meaning they exercise because they love it -- are the ones who stay in it for the long run.
- Take baby steps. You would never try to run 10 miles on day one, right? When you do too much too soon, you’ll end up sore, injured, and discouraged. Take it easy as you get started. Maybe you only run a quarter of a mile your first week. When that becomes easy, you can make it more challenging.
- Hang tough. No one has perfect form the first day of strength training. Every workout takes practice. You'll get the hang of it if you keep making an effort.
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New Year’s resolutions are great, but only if you stick with them. Rely on your friends and family to help keep you motivated. Maybe you can even convince one of them to join you in setting health goals. Physical activity and nutrition are vital in maintaining health and improving both longevity and quality of life.
At Orchard Hospital, our healthcare professionals are committed to providing the finest medical care to Butte County and Northern California residents in a safe, friendly, and compassionate environment. When you are a patient at our hospital, our primary concern is to help you get well quickly and make a smooth transition home. Contact us at (530) 846-9000.
