January marks not only the beginning of a New Year but also of a new slate of resolutions to end bad habits and start positive changes in our lives.
Not surprisingly, among the top 10 resolutions Americans make each year, according to the government’s official web portal, USA.gov, are to get fit and lose weight.
This year is no different. “Millions of people will once again make a commitment to exercise and eat better in an effort to shed the excess pounds and get healthy,” says Matt Scott, Master Wellness Coach. “But while these intentions are certainly good, the question is: will people stick to them?”
Scott cites various surveys indicating that the vast majority of people will end up breaking their resolutions sooner or later. “In fact, around three-quarters of us probably won’t make it to three months,” he notes.
Why are the resolutions so difficult to keep and – even more importantly – how do we make sure we stay on course?
Scott believes the key to success is to set goals that are realistic. “If we set the bar too high, it will be more difficult to stick to them,” he says. “In other words, if you try to accomplish something particularly demanding, you are setting yourself up for failure. Remember: a resolution must not be seen as an unpleasant duty or an obligation. It should be seen as something positive that will improve our health and life in general.”
To get and stay fit, Scott advises choosing an exercise routine that will keep us interested and focused in the long run.
“If you do a workout that you don’t enjoy, just for the sake of saying you’re exercising, you will probably not do it regularly or for very long,” he points out. “You will lose interest, throw in the towel, and there goes your resolution out the window. So, find an exercise regimen you will absolutely love and keep at it.”
As far as losing weight is concerned, Scott has these pointers:
- “Remember the number 1 rule of dieting: burn more calories than you eat.”
- “Avoid flash-in-the-pan fad diets – they don’t work, and they are not healthy.”
- “Stay away from foods that contain high amounts of saturated fat, sugar, and salt, and go for whole grains, low-fat protein and dairy, fruits, and vegetables. And remember to practice portion control.”
- “Weight loss should go hand-in-hand with regular exercise. Anything that gets you moving at a brisk pace will be effective. As an example, fitness programs such as boot camps are a great way to burn lots of calories because they include fat-busting workouts like cardio, resistance, and interval training.”
If you have any questions or would like any assistance on staying to stay track this year stop by LifeStyle Fitness or shoot us an email, we would love to help.
About Matt Scott, Fitness Expert:
Coach Matt is a Certified Master Health & Wellness Coach, Certified Holistic Life Coach, and a Certified Personal Trainer. In 2010 he made some huge changes in his own life, losing over 75 pounds. This process led him to become more involved in health and fitness. Matt’s transformation helped him to discover his true passion – helping people change their lives.
Coach Matt and his wife Kristy founded the American Health and Fitness Institute, a nonprofit organization to raise awareness for childhood obesity and other fitness related issues facing kids in our community.
Coach Matt and his wife Kristy are both passionate about helping families that are in the foster care system and spent several years on a personal mission as Professional Foster Parents for Christian Heritage, the couple currently have 7 kids in their home.
Coach Matt is a Co-Founder at Lifestyle Fitness, Co-Race Director of the Valley ONE Marathon and the Creator of the Best of Health Podcast. www.bestofhealthpodcast.com
Coach Matt also has special training working with older adults and was the first AARP approved Certified Trainer in the Omaha area recognized by the American Council on Exercise (ACE).
Coach Matt has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Master’s Degree in Organizational Communication and Leadership from the Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Coach Matt has been a frequent contributor to the Lincoln Journal Star Health section, you can see some of his articles at www.starcityhealth.com and Matt has appeared regularly as a fitness expert on Lincoln TV channel 10/11.
Coach Matt can be reached at matt@ah-fi.org for coaching and is available for media interviews on topics related to health, wellness, and fitness.