The best of intentions. We all have them. Monday signals the start of a new week, a new start.  You are going to eat healthy and go to the gym—because today, Monday, is the start of living a healthy lifestyle.  Tuesday and Wednesday come and go with no problems. You may have even lost a pound or two and are starting to feel good about yourself.  By Thursday you are so proud of yourself, you tell yourself it is OK to eat that one little piece of chocolate.  Friday arrives—the true test.  You have worked all week, you are tired and don’t feel like cooking.  You figure a slice of pizza and a glass of wine could not hurt.  In fact, you believe you deserve it. One slice leads to two and one glass leads to a half of bottle.  This is when you start to feel bad yourself and rest of the weekend is history.  You tell yourself, you will start again on Monday.

This cycle is very common. I have seen it often; in fact, it has happened to me on more than one occasion.  We are programmed to “start again on Monday” because the cold reality is that it is tough to stay motivated to eat healthy and exercise consistently.  We all have busy lives with school, work, family, and other activities.  Finding time and motivation to eat well and exercise regularly is a constant challenge.  For me personally, I have learned how to work through it.  Here are some tips and suggestions to help you on the path to better health:

1. Exercise during a time that works best for you, when it’s the most convenient and when you feel the most energized.  Make it part of your schedule, not a chore.
2. Exercise with a partner or trainer – accountability is a great way to achieve your fitness goals.  When we have someone counting on us at the gym or when we hire a trainer to help us achieve our goals, the chances of us missing a workout are far less than if we were to do it alone.  Ask the staff at the gym if there is anyone they know who might want a workout partner at the time you normally work out.
3. Always plan your meals – When you wake up in the morning, you should know what you are going to be eating for the rest of the day.  Your meals for the most part should already be prepared and ready to go.  Eating out can cause you to consume significantly more calories than you think.  Planning your meals will help you consume the appropriate amount of calories for your body and fitness goals.
4. Learn to cook – Cooking healthy meals can be fun and interesting.  Start experimenting with different spices to change the flavor of your food.  Use seasonal fruits and vegetables in your meals.  Pick up a cookbook at the store or surf the web for some recipes.  Try to cook one new healthy recipe a week.
5. Ask for help – I cannot stress this enough.  I see more people fall off the wagon because they were scared or embarrassed to ask for help.  Whether it is exercise or nutrition advice, don’t be afraid to ask for help. 

 

Think of your healthy lifestyle as an investment that you can’t afford to lose.

Stay Healthy

Nic