Wednesday, February 11, 2009



Looking ahead in 2009-one month at a time....

Whew! You survived another holiday season. My kids and I enjoyed baking cookies, making candy, attending many holiday functions full of delicious foods. Not to mention a few birthday parties that included cake and ice-cream. Now all I want to do is hibernate until spring. Or maybe several of you have decided that this is the time to set 'New Goals' for the new you. You have told yourself that you are going to the gym everyday, you will start to run and you will cut back on your food intake -- you will loose weight.

Wait - Hold It - Stop - before you set those standards to high - remember my theory 'S.M.A.R.T.E.R': Simple, Manageable, Attainable, Realistic, Time, Evaluate, and Reward. Here are a few simple tips that may guide you through this next month.

Daily Exercise: Start your first week with only 10 minutes of walking. Then increase only by 5 minutes the second week. By the third week increase it by 5 minutes, and by the fourth week you will increase your walks up another 5 minutes. By the end of the month you will be walking a total of 25 minutes and your body will crave that ritual.



When choosing condiments, switch to non-fat or skip it all together. This includes the cheese. You will save as much as 250 calories.



Breakfast choices: Skip the doughnut case and choose a whole grain bagel and apple, or ready to drink smoothie or yogurt. The complex carbs and protein will provide you with longer lasting energy.



If you must go to the drive through for lunch, choose a broiled chicken sandwich and skip the fries. If it is fries you crave order the kids meal and enjoy.



When hitting your local coffee shop, order it 'Skinny'. You will cut as many as 30 fat grams with just one word.



Your pet's exercise program has probably slowed down. Grab a coat and hit the sidewalk. Once around the block and you will feel invigorated-a double bonus- your pet will love you too.



With the colder months upon us we tend to forget about hydration. In reality water is crucial this time of year. Keep water close by, in the car, on the desk, next to your coffee table, just seeing it there will remind you to take a sip.



If you are still trying to make that first step with exercise, join a local walking group. It is a chance to meet new folks and stay accountable. Check out my facebook and join our group Eagle Fitness Club for group walks and running events.

Now go ahead and reward yourself for a job well accomplished.

Take this time as another month to stay on task. Don't think you need to do it all this. It took some time to get where you are today and it will take time to get where you want to go. A friend once told me that you must do what you love so that you will keep doing it.

No comments:

Post a Comment