Kent Sport health and fitness instructor Sarah Black offers some advice about the getting back into a healthy mindset for the year and setting achievable goals to stay on track.
New Year, new resolutions and we no doubt will have a fitness goal as one of the priorities on the list. It is amazing how time flies; I can recall making my 2015 resolutions like it was a moment ago.
Once a year we have a holiday that is designated to over eating, over drinking and involves very little exercise or no exercise at all. The damage that some of us commit in a week, will seem debilitating and demoralising. However, the harm we may cause is not as regressing as it all seems. In fact, the plateau may have just been flipped over for what will be a hurdling stride ahead in terms of strength, fitness and motivation.
Step by step let us assess the way to get back into the mind-set that will see great opportunities and results for us in 2016.
Set a goal: Big or small, tough or easy. Set an attainable target that you want to achieve this year. There is no other way that you can remain motivated, unless you are working towards something that you want to accomplish. Why plod through the motions with a frown? Turn your ability into something that will make you proud and experience the satisfaction when you reach what you have set out ahead of you. Resolutions are designed to motivate individuals throughout the year, mapping out our journeys to self-satisfaction.
Hide the junk: If you have snow balled into bad habits and you are still finishing off left over mince pies and Cadbury’s, then you may be doing your waist line and your self-esteem little good. Pick up the remainders and give them away to those in need, or simply limit the amount you have, keeping everything in moderation and using them as your treats. There is always the opportunity to reward yourself later, however if you are still in the routine of having twiglets after pudding, then it might be time to clean up the diet and get back to the clean eating slate.
Sleep: Adequate amounts of sleep will not only allow you to feel more refreshed and uplifted, but it will allow your body the time to recover and repair itself daily. Aim to get 8 hours of good quality sleep every night. The stresses we face in life will be so much easier to handle and face when we are not tired, moody and sleep deprived.
Immunity: How many of us were sick over the holidays? This is the body’s way of letting us know that we need to pay it more attention and be kinder to ourselves on a regular basis. The moment we stop what we are doing or take a much needed rest, our engines begin to splutter and cough up the suffering we have exposed them to over the previous months. Focus on taking breaks, holidays little and often when required, do not get yourself to the point that you breakdown and suffer from a sickness spell. Dose yourself up with vitamins, healthy nutrition and all of the above tips, to nurture your body and mind.
Get up and get out: Every little helps when it comes to activity. You do not need to run 10km every day or attend multiple classes to remain fit. Simply walking to the shops, doing the housework, walking the dog and not taking the car to every appointment will result in obtaining a healthy lifestyle. Set small challenges such as parking in a far space away from the shops and walking that bit further, or getting off the bus at an earlier stop and walking home. All the extra exercise will accumulate and offer health gains if you adhere to the challenges you set.
Ahead of you are 365 opportunities to succeed and maximise your well-being in 2016. Assistance and guidance are always available in the fitness industry. Tap into your resources and if you have set a fitness resolution in 2016 then utilise your knowledge into researching the best available care out there for you. Specific devotion to each individual needs to be forced in order to return results. We all need different programmes, different diets and exercisers. Do what works for you and hopefully the resolutions you have selected will be a start towards engaging in a journey of success. Good luck and remember Kent Sport has a team of Exercise, Health and Fitness Instructors that are available to assist you in meeting your exercise needs and provide motivation and guidance to achieve your optimal well-being. For further details about Kent Sport, www.kent.ac.uk/sports, drop by the Sports Centre or Pavilion or email sportsenquiries@kent.ac.uk.