At the forefront of many people’s resolutions lists, one is sure to find something regarding the words, “healthy, fit, gym, eat well.”   Every year-end, we’re bogged down with holiday foods – rich main dishes, loads of carbs, sweets galore.  It’s no wonder we come out of last year in an insulin haze, pushing ourselves to be better to our bodies.

One of the best mantras to remember when undertaking a get-fit plan for the new year is that you’re not doing it because you need to fit into size x jeans.  You’re doing it because you want to feel better – physically, mentally and emotionally.  You’re working hard to be good to your body because it’s the only one you’ve got.   It’s important be respectful of your body, and responsible in your actions, because there are a lot of factors that can turn your get-fit plan into an unhealthy undertaking.

This year, do right by your bod; health is not just about exercising or getting down to a certain size.  Health is about remembering that you are what you put into your body, in both maintenance and intake.  That’s the most true statement one could ask for in relation to body issues – you are what you eat, and the time you spend on maintenance.  Time, effort and intake are all going to pay off.  Some rules for getting fit in the new year that I’ve had success with are: watch what you put in, get motivated and make a plan.

You may cut down on portions, but still feel full and bloated because you’re eating smaller portions of the same stuff.  If your regular dinner is take out, you’re probably loaded up on sodium which contributes to water retention, and fats that work against your get-fit plans.  Another concern about intake is discerning food from simple nutrition.  This post over on Green Deane talks about the difference between real food and simple nutrition.  A lot of strange ingredients hide in the “nutrition content” packaging on your food, and real foods – vegetables, simple starches like rice, fruit, and meat – are going to be better for you than anything that comes pre-packaged.  There are plenty of ways to break down what you’re putting into your body – the Lose It application for the iPhone has been successful at watching what you’re consuming.  If you don’t have the iPhone, My Food-a-pedia is also a great resource for knowing what you’re eating, though the food categories are a little more limited.

Sometimes just knowing how many calories and fat calories are in a food is enough to realize that you need to cut down on portions of certain things.  I’m not personally into calorie counting, but it’s sometimes shocking to find out how many sugars are in that latté.  Often, knowledge is the best weapon, and just knowing what’s in a food makes it easier to eat well.  In that light, I do eat exactly what I want, but I moderate those things that are not-so-good for me.  I know that if I have a heavy lunch and a cookie or two, I should probably have something lighter and veggie-based at dinner or I won’t feel good, and I’ll have a hard time sleeping.  It’s all in how you use that knowledge – of course, this knowledge could be abused and if you find yourself compulsively counting the calories in your food or skipping breakfast so you can have that big indulgent slice of cake at lunch, you may want to stop and assess your situation.

(And on that note, it’s important to do breakfast – and not just coffee, but an actual food.)

A good rule here is to understand the effects of your intake on your body and how you feel.  Many people work to keep things like high-fructose corn syrup out of their diets, only to forget that putting refined white or even brown sugar on your cereal is just as detrimental to your health.  It’s like being lactose intolerant and swearing off milk, only to load up on cheeses later.    That goes for alcohol and other vices too.  We all know there are benefits to a glass of red wine, but you can even overdo it on a good thing.  Be conscious of what you’re putting into your body.

Having the right motivation is another important hurdle – when embarking on a get-fit plan, make sure you have the right motivations.  Mine is pretty simple – I don’t want to have to buy a new wardrobe…. I kid!  Actually, I know I’m more alert and feel better when I’m taking care of myself.  I have a good “fightin’ weight” and I feel like I’m on top of it when I can maintain that weight and do well by my body.  Elle had  a report in their “Make Better” section about “exercise bulimics” who hit the gym, almost as punishment for what they’ve eaten. While that sort of happens when you’re on the path to better health, that shouldn’t be your motivation.  Know your “feel-good” weight and be motivated by feeling good.

Make a plan.  Maybe your plan is to cook at home so you can use better ingredients in your diet.  Maybe your plan is to buy a blender and some fruit so you can actually start making yourself breakfast.  Maybe your plan is that you want to run a for-charity marathon and so you set guidelines to get you there.  Whatever the plan is, write it down, set measurable goals, make a fun active mp3 playlist for your activity, and stick to it.

That brings me to the first “Invest in You” point I want to make this year – it’s important to invest in yourself, so this month (well last month really, and Mister had some involvement there…) I’ve invested in a gym membership.  I don’t want to run in the rain and the gym down the street offers a lot more resources for getting fit.

work out? by shawnabird

Maybe the gym isn’t your thing, but a hot-yoga class is.  Or maybe you prefer the range of activities offered at your local YMCA.  Whatever the case, many of these resources are offering specials to those resolution-bound gym bunnies right now – for the unsure, a lot of gyms and even the YMCA offer trial periods so you can check it out.  Even if it’s 30 minutes on a bike a couple times a week, you’ll notice you feel alert, happier (exercise produces endorphins), and you may even see a boost in libido (and an ability to keep up with your partner’s bendy tantric moves – me-yow!).  If it’s something you like and can stick to, invest in yourself – make that part of your New Year fitness plan (if you have one).

Do you have a “get-fit” plan for 2010?  What’s your secret to success?

Related posts:

1. New Year, New Focus
2. Invest In: Quality Time
3. Invest In: An Updated Resumé

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