"My New Year's resolution was to lose 15 pounds, I only have 25 to go"- Brian Regan
The New Year is upon us. This means that some of us will be making resolutions to lose weight and get in shape. However well intentioned we might be, without guidance and the support of others we will often fall short of our goals.
Thanks to Al Gore and his invention of the Internet, we have more information at our fingertips than ever before. Some of it is good and some of it is unreliable. Its hard to tell which is which. So when it comes to getting healthy and in shape, you can easily get lost in which kind of workout to do, which diet to do, etc. etc. until you eventually become discouraged and give up.
Rather than obsessing about the mirror or the numbers on the scale, I tell clients to simply focus on how you feel and how you move. Learning to be in tune with your body will pay you huge dividends in your journey to health and fitness.
In terms of diet it is a good habit to take inventory on how you are feeling after you eat a meal. Do you feel light and energized? Do you feel like you need a nap? While it is okay to indulge yourself on occasion, if you constantly feel tired and can only exist when you're caffeinated then it might be a good idea to look at making some changes to how you are eating. Try incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Try to eat out less and cook more often. Its amazing how much money you’ll save plus you will lose weight- because lets be honest- portion sizes (at least here in America) are much MUCH larger than they need to be.
I had one client recently tell me that he wants to be able to put on his socks without “having a coronary”. So we began to focus on developing good movement patterns and mobility. When you can move without being in pain, you are much more likely to do it again. Pretty soon you will enjoy moving, and guess what? You’ll feel younger, stronger and more mobile. If you are feeling tight and immobile, try spending more time on the floor. Yes, the floor. Try sitting cross legged on the floor for 5-10 minutes while you read or watch tv. Try laying on your stomach, supporting yourself with your arms while you read or check emails. Try sitting in a squat for 10 seconds and then work up to a minute. Just allow yourself to feel a little uncomfortable and focus on breathing through the discomfort (as long as it isn’t sharp pain). Go out for a 10 minute walk. You’ll feel better. Our bodies need to move.
So, while resolutions can be good I think it would be more beneficial for us to instead focus on getting to know ourselves a little better. Lets listen to our body. After all, it is the only one we have to live in. Lets begin to feed it with the foods that give us energy and and lets begin to add movement that gives our body vitality.
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Here is a before and after pic of yours truly. These pictures are a little less than a year apart. I am not one to post pictures of myself without my shirt on, however I want to show you that it is possible to make changes in the course of a year. The end result may not be our "ideal" or "dream" physique, but it can definitely be one that is healthier, leaner and more mobile! I feel 100% better now than I did. I have more energy, more focus and can run around with my kids without getting tired or sore. I am stronger and have more endurance, plus I can actually fit into the clothes hanging in my closet (although I usually just wear sweats LOL).
Take it one day at a time, and if you stay consistent with your program you can make significant changes this year. You CAN do it!
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