cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo shared by K.Hurley
For many, making a New Year’s resolution to either lose weight or get in shape is first in the mind while celebrating with family and friends. But after the party, when it comes time to actually buckle down and do it, sticking with the plan can be more difficult. Many New Year’s resolutions go down the drain as quickly as that last glass of Champagne that didn’t manage to be completed before the midnight countdown. Getting back on track doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds, however, and with the right motivation and will to perform, getting the body of anyone’s dreams can be a realistic goal.
Many people find themselves getting discouraged by the end of January, when all the days of working out and denying themselves that one extra piece of chocolate cake just doesn’t seem to be producing the desired result. Not getting instant gratification is a hurdle to any health plan, and drastically altering habits or routines can be disconcerting for anyone. The first step to getting back on track is as simple as a change of attitude. Instead of stepping on that scale every day expecting to see drastic differences overnight, make a new resolution to check progress consistently once a week. Weight often fluctuates depending on time of day or a personal metabolism, or for women, even the time of the month. So to avoid confusion and discouragement, weighing in once a week is better than more often. Make sure to always weigh in at the same time to cut the effect of weight fluctuation. Morning weigh-ins after first waking up typically produces better results than afternoon or evening ones.
More important than the number on the scale are body measurements. Adapting to a new workout or dietary plan often produces results that are overlooked because people are too focused on the losing weight part, and not focused enough on losing the inches. Inches can melt away from fat loss with the number on the scale staying relatively constant due to building muscle, which weighs more than fat, but takes up less room. Getting a tape measure and doing periodic and consistent measurements around the hips, thighs, waist and abdomen are a good way of measuring progress, regardless of what the scale may say. By pumping up cardio workouts six or seven days a week and adding high impact resistance training, the body will begin to change more quickly than expected – just maybe not in the expected way.
The key to getting a New Year’s resolution back on track, however, is to persevere and have patience. Stressing out about apparent lack of progress can actually make losing weight more difficult because stress produces hormones that make the body want to hold onto fat more, instead of aiding in shedding it. Results may take several weeks to first materialize, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll never show up. The key is to realizing that all the work being done makes the body healthier, stronger and fitter, regardless of whether results are easily visible yet. By keeping up the routine and gradually building muscle and endurance, the pounds will start to melt off – and by the time they do, the results will be astonishing. It’s just a matter of keeping at it, and not giving up or getting discouraged too easily.
This article was written by the catering experts at eZcater.com Since 2008, eZcater has been providing the best Akron Catering solutions.
