Friday, January 1, 2010

10 Ways To Get Fit After the Holidays

Ready to shed those holiday pounds? Or maybe you're like me and have more than just those old holiday pounds to lose. Here are a few pointers to help you along.

1. Back to good eating habits
The holidays are a time when many of us let loose and splurge on foods that we don't normally eat throughout the year. Let's let the splurging be left behind with the holidays that have passed. Incorporate better eating habits. Maybe the splurging began long before the holidays, but it's a new year, so make a new beginning for yourself and research some simple, good eating habits for yourself and you'll see a change not only in your weight, but in your health as well.
2. Start working out
This will help to burn extra calories and build muscle. The more muscle you have, the better your metabolism and the more weight you'll lose.
3. Grab a partner
For motivation, you know. You can encourage each other to workout. Workout out together. Get someone who's already faithful in a workout if possible.
4. Add it into your schedule
Make time to workout. Don't make excuses. I heard a good idea once that stuck with me. 10 minutes around your mealtimes. Two to three times a day. It adds up.
The next three sorta go hand in hand:
5. More fiber
6. More fruits and veggies
7. Add more whole grains
These are all good for weight loss and overall health improvement.
8. Eliminate some, if not all of those empty carbs
Not always easy to do, but definitely worth it. Try replacing somethings too, such as dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Cut back as much as possible on things like soft drinks. Drink lots of water instead. Water helps to flush and cleanse your body and you'll likely find yourself more energetic.
9. Take control of the time you eat
After around 8pm try not to eat anything heavy. Instead of going for leftovers or sandwiches, go for veggies or maybe even a spoon of peanut butter on a celery stick. I also like to add raisins. Get plenty of rest. I find that staying up late gives my body time to get hungry again. Sleeping releases a chemical into your body naturally to help with hunger.
10. Be committed
This is one of those things in life that you have to do for yourself. No one else can fight this battle for you, so be committed. The change you're looking for may come slowly, but if you stick with it, it will come. Finally, remember the weight wasn't put on overnight, and just as it took time to accumulate, it's going to take time to lose.

If you do have a Wii and are interested in using it towards your weight loss goals, i've heard great things about EA Sports Active which I would recommend looking into.

This post was written in response to this one over at Twittermoms.

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