Make TODAY your Resolution Day

By now, most of us are knee-deep in holiday fair. The trees are going up, the baking being baked, presents wrapped and the holiday meals planned. For many of us, there’s a certain amount of anxiety that comes with this time of year. The weather gets colder so we’re less inclined to want to head outside to run or bundle up to go to the gym. There is the endless family time (often coupled with endless bickering) and more food than we know what to do with. Some deal with loneliness, others with insecurities and others still with loss. And who can ignore the trauma of the classic Christmas Sweater? I know for myself, this Christmas will mark one year since my family suffered its own tragedy. I get it. It can be overwhelming.

So what do we do? Likely what many tens of thousands of people do every year: We enjoy the holidays as best we can, eat a little too much, drink a little more and allow ourselves to indulge. In my case, I unearth the classic holiday stretchy pants to keep from popping the button on my favourite skinny jeans (come on people, ‘fess up, I’m not alone in this practice am I?).

Then…January 1st rolls around and we resolve to change our bad habits, cold turkey (no pun intended…well maybe a small pun), decide to exercise the extra pounds off, go hard core, stick with it for two weeks then crash, give up and go about our lives and ignore those few extra pounds.

Anyone not liking the picture being painted? Me either.

For years, I would go hard during the Christmas season. It was not at all uncommon for me to gain 10-12 pounds in a matter of weeks, simply from not paying attention to when to push myself away from the dinner table. I would use January 1st as an excuse to be careless because it wasn’t New Year’s yet so I had time to be naughty before “reality” came and it was time to hit the treadmill.

No more I say!

Here’s my challenge to you. Enjoy your holidays. Make the most of them, indulge…a little bit. But keep moderation in mind and don’t wait for January 1st to roll around to start making changes. Start now. Today. Look at healthier alternatives for eating. Schedule time to workout and commit to it. Start small. Don’t change your life overnight. You won’t last and your family won’t be thanking you either. Make one or two small goals per week, master them, then add another goal. By the time New Year’s Day hits, you’ll be well on your way to better health and still wearing those skinny jeans.

Tags: Fitness, Motivation, Resolution

Category: fitness, healthy living, motivation