Does setting health and fitness resolutions for a new year have to be a waste of time? Pennington Biomedical Assistant Professor of Research Jacob Mey has some tips on staying on track. Mey suggests making subtle adjustments to your diet and every day ask yourself…
“Did I pick up a fresh fruit? Did I pick up a fresh vegetable today? And did I eat them? And that’s one of the simplest things you can do. Just to make sure you’re moving in that positive direction.”
When starting a new exercise routine, a couple of days of exercise at a light effort is a great way to start. If you never work out, Mey says don’t start with a goal that involves working out 6 days a week. He suggests starting slowly rather than diving in at the deep end.
“Maybe it can be something small and simple like taking the stairs as often as you can. Parking farther away from all your entrances with your car. These are small simple habits that you can do on a daily bases that’s going to increase your activity level and your step count.”
Health goals should also include celebrating the little victories to track how far you’ve come.
Mey says be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned. He says regroup and identify achievable steps to keep going.
“Find what works for you. Find a way to manage it and keep track of your progress. And that’s the best way to move forward from a personal perspective.”
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