No matter how enthusiastic you were on January 1, chances
are good you’re already starting to fall back on your resolutions. The holidays
are well over and we’re fully back into the day-to-day routines which means it’s
easier to make excuses and put things off. The good news is, even if you’ve
already fallen off the horse, the year is still young! It’s not too late to start
back up with whatever goals you set to accomplish in 2019. If your goals
included getting healthier or losing weight read on for some tips to get the ball
rolling again!
Use Technology
There are tons of ways to integrate technology into your
daily fitness habits, from aps to track your calories and monitor your water
intake, to heart rate monitors, to streaming services to fit any type of
exercise you’re interested in. Residents at Enclave at 127th can enjoy the Wellbeats™ system in
our fitness center to complete goal-based workout plans, enjoy a wide variety
of fitness classes, and track improvement with fit tests. Don’t get bored with
the same old workout! Switch things up and try something new today.
Create a
Motivational Playlist
In addition to the above, you can also use technology to
your advantage in the form of music. While scientists still can’t fully agree
on why music affects exercise so much, there’s no doubt that it does. Studies
have shown that music makes physical exertion more enjoyable, distracting from
pain and fatigue while also elevating the mood and increasing endurance. Music
may even help the metabolism work more efficiently. So take some time and curate
your perfect workout mix, or start with a premade one and customize it for you.
Drink Water
You’ve been hearing it your whole life: drink eight
glasses of water per day to be healthy. While the exact amount of water varies
depending on who you ask, any health care professional or physical trainer will
tell you that water is one of the most important keys to staying healthy,
especially if you’re trying to lose weight. Depending on your starting point,
you may want to work on increasing your daily water intake or just be more consistent.
Get a reusable water bottle and set a goal to refill it so many times per day,
then keep track and meet that goal.
Don’t Weigh
Yourself as Much
It may seem counterintuitive, but if you’re struggling to
lose weight you may want to hide the scale for a period of time or weigh yourself
at set intervals (but not in between those intervals). Especially if you’ve fallen
off the fitness horse, monitoring your weight that closely could do more harm
than good. Between daily changes in hormones, stress levels, salt and water
intake, as well as several other factors, your weight can fluctuate several
pounds on any given day, only adding to your frustration. Instead consider
weighing yourself once every week or two, and make sure to do so at the same
time of day each time.
Make Things Easier
for Yourself
If you’re starting out with a new fitness schedule it’s usually
fairly easy to find the motivation to continue. Once you’re a few weeks in,
however, the motivation typically starts to die off and the excuses are harder
to fight. Give yourself some help and find ways to combat those excuses from
the start. If you prefer to workout of a morning, take a minute to lay out your
workout clothes before going to bed. If you’ve committed to working out after
work consider taking your workout clothes with you to work and changing there
so you’re ready to go as soon as you get home.
This content is not
intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
provider with any questions you may have before starting a fitness or diet plan.