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Finding the Solution to Healthy Living

Written on February 15, 2008

Well, January has come and gone. Our resolutions were set, our gym memberships were renewed and life was good -- weight loss was just a few short aerobics classes away. Right? WRONG! Here we are heading into spring and without a single change. According to studies that focus on weight loss, by February almost 60 percent of people have abandoned their New Year's Resolutions. By May close to 90 percent have not achieved their resolutions and by the end of the year, only 3 percent will still be committed to their resolutions. So, if resolutions don't work, what is the solution to healthy living?

Let's begin by looking closely at the meaning of the word resolution. Resolution means the process of simplifying something. Think about the New Year's resolutions you set. For many it's adding five days a week at the gym and cutting out all junk food. Does that simplify your life or complicate it? I don't know about you, but life is hectic enough after the holidays without adding the pressure of five extra hours of exercise and changing your nutritional habits?

More often than not, resolutions serve to complicate your life and those complications result in abandonment. The first things people usually abandon are their exercise and dietary resolutions. When it comes to thinking about making changes, a resolution is a great idea, but what you really need to focus on is a successful solution. A solution means finding the answer to a problem.

After the holidays, most people want to get back to life as usual because those months leading into the holidays are enough to drive one to -- well, overeat! So, come January, resolutions are set to remedy the "slips" made during the holidays. The reality of it is that inactivity and eating poorly have become a part of people's daily lives and there is no magic answer to weight loss or making healthy lifestyle changes.

The way I look at diet and exercise is that they are a constant, not an "On" or "Off" proposition. Diet must be constant, consistent and practical, and the same is true of exercise. Still, come January, we believe that by reducing our caloric intake by 800 calories a day and heading to the gym for two-hour workouts we will reap jaw-dropping results. Remember what I said about resolution? It's supposed to simplify your life, not complicate it. Making dramatic changes like this only serve to complicate it!

Here are some suggestions to getting back on track and leaving January resolutions behind:

1. Take a look at the changes you want to make. If you want to lose weight, why? To feel better? To look better? Whatever your reason, it must be important enough to matter and pursue. Saying that you just want to lose weight is pretty simplistic, there's usually more to it than simply wanting to lose weight. Maybe your energy level is too low, maybe you can't keep up with your kids, grandkids, whatever. Find a reason that is meaningful enough for you to want to make a change.
2. Begin by laying out an "action plan" outlining the steps that you are going to take to reach your goal. Your action plan must be reasonable for you and your lifestyle. In other words, your action plan has to make sense for your lifestyle, otherwise you'll abandon it.
3. Don't do too much too soon. Keep away from overzealous exercise or diet programs, they are temporary and rarely work.
4. Have fun! Change your lifestyle in a manner that makes it enjoyable. Find activities you enjoy, experiment with new foods and enjoy the process.
5. Remember that sound nutrition and exercise are constants! Our bodies were designed to move and move they must. Don't view exercise simply as a weight loss strategy, there are hundreds of other benefits. Weight loss is simply a byproduct of exercise. Choose foods that serve you well and begin making the connection with how you feel when you eat well vs. when you do not. Get away from diets.

Our country has been bombarded with false claims and empty promises when it comes to weight loss gimmicks. Remember this, if diets worked, obesity would be non-existent. The reality is, finding ways to incorporate activity into your life, along with sensible nutrition choices is all you need to be healthy and feel good.

Finding a solution to healthy living begins with just one step. Discover what motivates or excites you to be your best and go for it!