Healthy Resolutions for the New Year :: Healthy Lifestyles and Natural Weight Loss Information

Healthy Resolutions for the New Year
by author Katherine Janson

With the New Year, come New Year’s resolutions. Many people put on a few extra pounds over the holiday season, and many see the New Year as a new opportunity to lose weight. Adding more physical activity into your routine may be part of your plan to get slim, as physical activity has an important role to play in maintaining a healthy body weight.

“But that’s not the whole picture,” says Kelly Murumets, president and CEO of ParticipACTION. “Being physically active is important regardless of your weight—so instead of making a deal with your scale this New Year, how about making a deal with yourself to get active?”

Many people may think that a thin couch potato is healthier than a heavy marathon runner, but according to ParticipACTION and the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, this is untrue. No matter how much a person weighs, regular physical activity reduces the risk of over 25 chronic conditions, including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, breast cancer, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. No matter how much you weigh, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that you get 30, and preferably 60, minutes of physical activity a day.

Make increasing physical activity your New Year’s resolution, and give yourself the tools to stay on track.

“Try keeping a diary or calendar of your physical activity, so you can track and measure your improvement,” suggests Murumets. “And don’t forget to record small, 10-minute bouts, like walking to the store or shovelling the driveway. By recording your activity, you can see increases over time and progress toward your goals.”

When you’re setting a goal—which is what a New Year’s resolution is—it’s a great idea to make it a SMART goal:

“S” is for specific. Clearly define what you want to accomplish. Instead of setting a goal to “be active,” set a specific goal to “walk 30 minutes, four times a week.”

“M” is for measurable. If you can’t measure your goal, you will never know if you have reached it. Make your goal a specific number, like minutes walked or number of sit-ups, so you can see your progress.

“A” is for attainable. Setting a goal that is out of reach may discourage you. However, setting a goal that is a challenge, but within reach, will motivate you to make the commitment and help you find the strength to attain it.

“R” is for relevant. This means that the goal has to work with your lifestyle and interests. If you are not a morning person, don’t try to reinvent yourself by planning to exercise before work. Make sure you choose an activity you enjoy.

“T” is for time-bound. Setting a timeframe for your goal will provide you with clear target to work toward and encourage you to get started right away. If your goal is to run a 10k on a certain date, you will be less likely to put it off.

Using SMART goals will help stay on track toward a healthier, more active lifestyle. By focusing on increasing physical activity instead of just losing weight, your New Year can be less about attaining a new body, and more about a whole healthy new you!

For tips and information on getting active, check out participACTION.com

Katherine Janson is the PR and Communications Manager at Participaction

Source: alive Web Exclusive, December 2009

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