Welcome to January, the month when gyms are the most crowded and Facebook feeds are filled with all your friend's #FitnessGoals.
It makes sense that you chose now to try to get into better shape and knock off some of that weight you gathered from over the holidays. Let's face it, bikini season always sneaks up on us way sooner than expected, so of course your New Year's resolution was to lose weight.
It doesn't seem that hard to do either. Maybe go to the gym a few times a week and hop on the elliptical for 20 minutes, only drink water instead of sweet tea or soda, and the pounds should just fall off, right?
Losing weight is about making lifestyle changes, and that takes a lot of work, willpower, and commitment.
If 2017 for you is about losing weight, then your way of living will probably need to undergo a lot of change.
Here's the secret to losing weight that they don't tell you: it's not just about cutting out carbs or sugars for a while; it's about living a healthier life every day.
Going to the gym is great and eating food that is better for you is also great, but the two have to work together, and most importantly, you have to stay consistent.
Losing weight isn't about bandwagoning on the latest diet trend to lose 30 pounds in 30 days, it's about creating a healthier life for your body naturally.
(Yeah, don't do that.)
If you like to eat ice cream every night, it's probably unrealistic to completely cut it out of your diet. Start slowly reducing your intake of unhealthy foods as you transition into a new lifestyle and it will be much easier to stick to your resolution.
It's okay to continue eating foods that you enjoy, and you don't have to feel guilty by calling it a "cheat day." It's not a diet plan you're cheating, it's your happiness. It's not healthy (or fun) to make yourself miserable by going cold turkey. Take it at your own pace.
(P.S. Eating healthier doesn't mean you can't ever have dessert or soda again. It just means you have to moderate yourself and know when you don't need the extra calories.)
Consistently exercising is also an important component to shedding some pounds, but don't try to overdo it.
Okay, well maybe do a bit more than "horizontal running" but don't try to be the gym hero if you haven't worked out that much before.
There's no shame in starting with light workouts. Everyone is in the gym for the same reason, so there is no need to feel intimidated. Find a type of exercise that works for you and that you enjoy. That may be lifting weights in the gym, taking a fitness class, finding a physical activity like kickboxing, or riding a bicycle around outside. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it's something that you like to do so that you won't dread your work outs.
Most importantly, before you go and make a huge lifestyle change, it's important to know why you are doing it. If the answer to that question is anything other than "because I want to do it for myself and my own personal happiness" then you should take a moment to re-evaluate your decisions.
The changes you make in your life should be made for you and no one else.
So while your attitude right now may be something like this:
Remember that you have a long journey ahead of you. You're not just "losing weight." You're creating a healthier life, and that will take time.
Be patient.
Stay motivated.
And go make 2017 the year you choose to take care of your body and live a healthy lifestyle.
