Realistic Resolutions: Health Edition

One of the most reoccurring resolutions heard every new year’s falls under the same category. Whether it be to eat more salads or actually use that gym membership more than once a month, many of them revolve around health. Unfortunately, most of these goals are forgotten by the end of January. Will-power, time, and understanding are necessary when making changes. Before, the healthy resolution is forgotten, here is some advice to make new year’s goals attainable.

To begin with, getting fit doesn’t necessarily mean hitting the gym. In Exercise Vs. Diet: The Truth About Weight Loss by Sarah Z. Wexler, Shawn M. Talbot, PhD, nutrition biochemist and former director of the University of Utah Nutrition Clinic stated in order to lose weight it is “generally 75 percent diet and 25 percent exercise.” Obviously eating healthy means being healthy. However, diet can sometimes be overlooked. Think about it. If somebody is consuming more calories then they can burn off by exercising, they will gain weight. In short, exercising with an unbalanced diet will not show any results.  Like Talbot said, “You can’t out exercise a bad diet.”

Next, be sure to drink enough water. This is so simple, but water can act as some of the best fuel for the body. The whole “drinking eight glasses of water” is just a suggestion. An individual may need more or less.  To solve for the estimated amount of water an individual should, they take their body weight in pounds and divide it in half. The quotient is the number of ounces that person should be drinking per day. The benefits of drink water range from weight loss to healthy skin to proper body function. Again, so simple, yet very effective.

Lastly, if working out more frequently is a goal in mind for the new year, there is no need to go insane at the gym. The American Heart Association recommends getting either 30 minutes of cardio five days a week or 25 minutes of cardio three days a week for cardiovascular health. This may seem like a lot, but walking on a treadmill while watching an episode of a favorite TV show is the equivalent to what one should be working out a day. If 30 minutes seems unreachable, start at ten and work up. Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

Getting healthy for the new year doesn’t have to be so hard. Small changes can be even more effective than a complete switch in routine. Starting small will help make these changes habit. Good luck getting healthy this year!