Is your New Year's resolution still on track? If you committed to eating a healthier diet, starting an exercise program or losing weight, this week might be a turning point for you. Many resolutioners quit during the second or third week of January.
If you are on the fence about quitting, consider this first: simply scaling back the scope of your resolution might be a better strategy. You may have set a goal that isn't unrealistic or requires too many changes. By focusing on a smaller, simpler, short-term goal, you may find greater success.
Focus on Healthy Eating
If your diet was too strict, dump it. But don't go back to your old eating habits. Try using the NuVal system at your grocery store to make better food choices. NuVal is a rating system that helps you to choose healthier foods within different food categories. For example, it will help you choose the healthiest bread, or the best soup, or even the dessert that will do the least damage. NuVal is available at local Lunds and Byerly's grocery stores, as well as Coborn's and Festival Foods (in Wisconsin).
Incorporate Easy Workouts
It sounds counterintuitive to hear a trainer tell you to do less work at the gym, but if your current exercise program is so strenuous that you are tempted to quit, it's time to back off. Of course, that doesn't mean that you ditch your hard workouts entirely, it just means that you incorporate one or two easy workouts each week to give your body the rest and recovery it needs.
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