First
published in the Grand Traverse Insider
on Sunday, January 1, 2012
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: BE FIT IN
2012!
By
Martha Videan, Grand Traverse Bay YMCA
Happy
New Year 2012! Once again it’s time to
step boldly into a new year. Filled with zeal and excitement, many of us will
take the opportunity to reevaluate personal goals and priorities. The process
that brings us closer to making a change is thought provoking. Personal goal oriented success goes hand in
hand with mindset and approach.
Many
of us ring in the New Year with health and fitness goals. Well-intended
candidates are eager to loose accumulated pounds and promise to hit the gym
everyday. Others choose stress reduction techniques that are tried and
true. Habits that put some of us in the
high-risk category can be all too often just plain old hard to break! With all systems on go the calendar marks
January 1st.
To
get your New Years resolutions off to a good start these suggestions can help
you make healthy and attainable goals this year.
First: be realistic. Determine where you would like to see
yourself in six months. Plan to evaluate
your progress on a regular basis and don’t abandon your idea. You may need to “fine tune” your plan along
the way. Break your goal down into
smaller goals that will help you reach your end result. If you want to loose weight, plan time during
the week to exercise. Choose activities
that are appealing to you. Try a new
activity that you’ve always wanted to take a crack at. Be realistic about the time you can commit to
your exercise plan. Start slow and then
add a new class or activity to keep things fun and interesting. Make your exercise choices become a part of
daily life. Try walking from the back of
the parking lot instead of choosing the spot closest to the front door. Ride your bike or walk to a destination
instead of driving. Even in the winter!
Be active for at least 2 ½ hours per week. If your resolution is to eat healthier, begin
by eliminating one unhealthy food from your diet at a time, not ALL unhealthy
food all at once. Grab a healthy snack like fruit, nuts or low-fat cheese. Follow the USDA, http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ ,
the new way for healthy food choices and serving sizes.
Second:
Surround yourself with people and places that will support your
goals. Social support can be a great
strengthener of motivation. Rely on your
friends to support you in your resolutions and do the same for them.
Third: Make your goals S.M.A.R.T.
Specific:
What are you trying to achieve? and Why? . Identify the purpose of your efforts. Make your goals simple and clear. Write down what your goals are and why you
are doing them.
Measurable:
Choose a goal with measurable progress so you can see change, overcome
setbacks, keep on track and adhere to your commitment.
Attainable: Ensure
that your goal is attainable by considering financial resources, your current
living situation and time available. Set
your goal as a challenge, but not too far out or too short. You don’t want to become discouraged.
Realistic: Ideally,
you would want to return to your high school weight. Set your goal to a weight that you know you
will feel better. You may just want to
fit more easily into a favorite pair of jeans.
Time-bound: Using
dates and times as measurements toward successful completion of your goal are
critical. Build in a reward system for
milestones: a massage, a getaway
weekend, whatever makes you happy and keeps you motivated to stay on track.
It’s
important to put your goals in writing.
You will remember exactly what you are trying to achieve and how you
plan to get there. Create the atmosphere
for success and meet each day with a compassion for the influences that
surround you. Revisit your goals often
and always know that your best effort, great or small, brings you closer to the
outcome that you set out to achieve.
The
Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, www.gtbayymca.org,
has a variety of activities that will inspire those young and old enough to be
young at heart. The YMCA offers fitness
classes that include Boot Camp, Zumba, Mat Pilates, Strength and Conditioning
and TRX. You will find a variety of tennis
classes, basketball leagues even pickle ball.
The weight room is available to YMCA members and a staff member will be
happy to show you the ropes! Call 933-9622 for more information.
Martha Videan is a ACE Certified
Personal Trainer and a Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Fitness Instructor
