Maytinee Kramer/ Staff Writer
The new year marks a turning point for many who set a newfound resolve to get back in shape.
One-in-three of us put getting into shape at the top of our resolutions list, but with the reality of school and life, the chances of old habits creeping back in are high.
LighterLife Fast conducted a study researching why so many people find it hard to stick with a diet.
In their poll, one-in-five women blamed emotional eating, while another 20 percent said life got in the way, making it difficult to find the time to stick to a plan.
Boredom and lack of willpower were other common problems.
Andrew Schrage, founder of MoneyCrashers told Shape magazine that, “Many people make their resolutions with a genuine belief that they can accomplish them, but come February the excitement wears off and other priorities begin to take precedence.” To combat these pitfalls, it’s important to make your resolutions realistic.
By doing so, there is a greater chance you will keep them throughout the year. Schrage further suggests to “set benchmarks throughout the year. This can help you keep yourself on track throughout the year and use the power of positive reinforcement to keep your momentum going.”
Starting off small is the first step. It’s important to make resolutions that you think you can keep.
For example, if you aim to get back into shape, schedule three to four days a week at the gym or at home to exercise rather than seven days. Even 30 minutes of exercise is better than none.
Professional organizer Melinda Massie, who also spoke to Shape magazine, suggests that instead of trying to accomplish everything in one day, break it up into manageable increments.
“The easiest way to get and stay organized and clutter-free is to make it a daily habit, and everyone can spare five minutes a day,” Massie said.
Changing one behavior at a time is also necessary. Unhealthy behaviors develop with time, so naturally, replacing those behaviors with healthy ones takes time.
It will require reassessing everything in your life, but in the long run, changing one thing at a time will benefit you mentally and physically.
A support group is another great way to get and stay motivated.
Accepting help from others who care and and the same goals as you will strengthen your resilience and ability to manage stress and lack of willpower caused by your resolution.
As The Mojo Coach Debi Silber advised readers of Shape, “Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be more, do more, and have more.”
A New Year brings forth a fresh start in many aspects so why not get it started off right with putting your health first?
Remember, you can do whatever you put your mind to. So cheers to the New Year, and the New You!
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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of Panther Press Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.
Photo taken from Flickr.
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