New Year's resolutions are so last year – and they hardly ever last longer than a few months (if that). This is because the resolutions we usually lay out for ourselves are far too vague and as a result, unachievable. Just ask Dr. Nina Inamdar of Westchester Health, who specializes in Internal Medicine at Stamford Hospital.
“When people make their New Year’s resolutions, oftentimes, they make them too large, too broad, not specific, and not realistic enough. And then, they quickly become overwhelmed because they haven’t reached their goal,” says Dr. Inamdar.
"Lose weight" and "exercise more" don't mean much when you don't have a plan of how many lbs to shed or how many miles to add to your weekly run. Dr. Inamdar recommends setting up a small goal to start off with and sticking to it until you can go on to reach the next one.
“If you’re going to make a goal, try to make a goal that’s a bit smaller, and step it up as the year progresses,” Dr. Inamdar says. “You want to lose 50 pounds this year? Well, 50 pounds seems daunting after two weeks. The best goals are the smaller ones we can make. Don’t take the elevator at work. Park farther away so you add some walking to your day.”
This year, start a revolution for a healthier you by making effective (and easy) changes to YOUR everyday lifestyle. Here are six ways to get (and stay) healthy in 2015:
Check in with your doctor. Have you had a check-up or physical in 2014? If not, you should definitely pull a Bugs Bunny and say “What’s up?” to your doc.
“It should be part of everyone’s resolution to get a check-up,” Dr. Inamdar says. “Talk about what resolutions or changes might be right for you personally. Everyone’s body is different, and your doctor will tell you what he or she thinks you should focus on.”
Amp up your snow days. Falling in love with a morning run or other outdoor fitness activities seems impossible when the weather outside is frightful. And snow days can also kill your 2015 “Get it done” mentality.
Stuck at home with the kids? Pop in a yoga DVD or better yet, find some free Zumba routines on YouTube while they sleep in. Dr. Inamdar even recommends adding stretching muscles to one’s daily routine.
“Stretch each evening before you go to bed,” Dr. Inamdar says. “Pick up a new sport or a new fun thing to do. Pick up fencing or ballroom dancing. There’s lot of great resources in Fairfield County that are indoor-based programs that would love newcomers. You can even do it with your family.”
Eat more mindfully. This does not have to mean eating less or quitting chocolate cold turkey. Instead, vow to be truly aware of the fact that what you are consuming will affect your body.
“It’s not about the diet as much as eating healthy. I want people to eat and not starve. They just need to start thinking about the choices they make,” Dr. Inamdar explains. “If you have to get fast food, pick a healthier choice. It’s an easier resolution to keep than saying, ‘I’m never going to enter a Wendy’s.’”
“Another mindful habit is to try to get foods in their pure states,” Dr. Inamdar says. “Processed foods will lead to obesity, and so, if you make a choice to cook more for yourself this year, that’s already mindful eating. You know where your food is coming from and what’s in it.”
What’s Dr. Inamdar’s most important nutrition tip?
“Don’t drink your calories,” Dr. Inamdar says. “Avoid even diet sodas. What diet sodas do is make us want to drink something sweet while we eat, so we are setting up a pattern to want to have something sweet.”
Remember that there is strength in numbers. Your Instagram followers may “Like” your cute new workout gear, but they never have to know if you actually went to hot yoga or not. Ask the cute guy at the gym for tips or find a few friends with similar fitness goals and share your workout progress each week (in person!). Keep each other motivated and make the gym trips bearable – and even fun.
“When you work on a healthy goal with someone, you’re more likely to stick to it because when you get overwhelmed, you can have someone to support you,” Dr. Inamdar explains. “I’m a big advocate for strength training, which I do with a trainer. That way, I know there is somebody waiting for me, so I’m less likely not to go. If you have someone at the gym that you work out with, that sets the same agenda. That will motivate you to keep fit.”
Invest in a super cute water bottle. We’re super serious about this one. If you treat your water bottle as an accessory as opposed to the clunky tin that follows you to the gym, you’ll be more likely to pop it in your bag for class, work, hanging out with friends, etc. Plus, what if you slimmed down your spending in 2015 as well? If you always have your water with you, you won’t be as tempted to splurge on the Big Gulps and chai lattes.
Connect with others – face-to-face. And using Skype or FaceTime doesn’t count.
“In this day and age, we are more likely to sit in front of a screen than talk to our family or go out and see our friends,” Dr. Inamdar says. “Get out and socialize whether it’s in the gym or in your home. You’ve got people who want to connect with you. We forget that too often.”