Sticking with it
Special to the Gazette, Ashley James
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Shape Up, Emporia!, is a weekly fitness and health column aimed at readers of all ages to get off the couch and get into shape. Each week will feature a fitness, health or nutritionprofessional from around the area who will share some friendly tips on how to improve your overall health. Our goal is to make getting in shape fun and easy to fit into your existing lifestyle and daily routine. If you are a reader and would like us to tackle a certain topic related to health and fitness, then let us know and we’ll do our best to cover it. If you are a fitness or health professional and would like to contribute to this column, then let us know that too; we’d love to work you in. Well then, I guess it’s time to get moving, Emporia.
By Ashley James
Special to The Gazette
Already having trouble keeping up with your goals for the New Year?
Don’t worry. It tends to happen to the best of us! I once heard that the only resolutions we can truly keep are gaining weight, not exercising and eating whatever it is we enjoy — typically not the most nutritious!
I think most of us from one time or another have made that statement true, but luckily we can overcome the obstacles that make us more likely to fall short of our goals.
Below are a few of the more common health-related New Year’s resolutions that tend to stump even the best of us!
Losing weight
1 Though it’s a smart goal it’s also one of the most difficult goals to have. The pressure to refrain from devouring the plate of brownies or to avoid the ever-so-lovable box of sprinkled doughnuts at work can become very taxing to a person’s self-control. My tip is to be prepared for those temptations by having ready-made snacks that are a little friendlier on your waistline. Some examples — carrot sticks, bottled water, box of raisins, nuts.
Getting fit
2 There are numerous benefits to getting fit, such as weight loss, muscle strengthening, stronger bones, a lower heart rate, better mood, less stress, cleansed complexion and enhanced brain power.
In order to achieve this goal, it could help if you prioritize your day. If exercise is a true priority, then place it near the top of the list instead the bottom. Ask a friend or spouse to support you through encouragement or even as a workout partner. The buddy system works!
Eat right!
3 The key to healthy eating is to consume most if not all of the nutrients from each of the five food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and meat and beans.
For your benefit, the USDA designed the food guide pyramid years ago; however, it wasn’t until recently they confirmed that “one size doesn’t fit all.” Therefore, they now have a “My Pyramid.”
It symbolizes a personalized approach to healthy eating and physical activity. You can see for yourself at mypyramid.gov.
Good luck in 2009!
1mafia (anonymous) says...
Ashley why do you keep peoples money when they quit your fitness center. Folks never have an eft with these people. if you are unhappy and quit they continue to take your money, but yet they say there are no contracts to sign. Hmmmmm
January 20, 2009 at 11:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
imarun_r2 (anonymous) says...
Emporia Fitness does not have contracts with their EFT, however....if you are quitting....they might need to be notified to make sure your EFT gets cancelled. Did you ever think of that?
January 22, 2009 at 6:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )