Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/101127
Getting Fit By Debbie Officer, Group Fitness Supervisor Reach your resolution How to keep your promise for a healthier year T he new year is here, and for most of us, it means resolutions���determinations to change some aspect of our lives for the better. But how can your New Year���s resolution, especially if it involves weight loss, become a long-term success? Here are five steps to help. week ahead. If you commute, invest in a small cooler or lunchbox to have in the car. Don���t get caught unprepared by the ever-changing uncertainties of life. If you���re unsure about the best choice, consider meeting with a nutritionist. 1 Transform your mind Most people don���t pay enough attention to the necessity of sleep and its connection to weight control and health. We give sleep whatever time is left at the end of the day rather than make it a top priority. Adequate sleep of seven to eight hours is necessary for the body to produce hormones, which regulate your appetite. Production of ���good��� hormones can bring satisfaction after a healthy meal. Lack of sleep can increase ���poor��� hormone production and increase appetite. Make sleep a priority. 2 Have a plan You���ve heard it before, and it���s true������If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.��� This is especially true with fitness goals. If living a long and healthy life is the ultimate fitness goal, what are the shortterm goals that will get you to the finish line? Whether it���s losing five pounds or eating more fruit, aim to have an achievable goal and set a date for completion. 3 Choose to eat healthy Food choice plays a large role in a healthy life. Think before you eat. Ask yourself, ���Will this help me achieve my goal?��� Success requires a proper mindset and a course of action. An excellent way to begin is by planning meals and mealtimes. Choose a day for grocery shopping and food preparation, utilize storage containers, and plan for the 28 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | JANUARY 2013 5 Get physical If the word ���exercise��� scares you, think of it as physical activity instead. This opens your options. What do you like to do? What has interested you in the past? It could be shooting hoops with friends or taking a walk after dinner. It could be a group fitness class or a swim in the pool. Teaming up with a personal trainer can keep you focused and accountable. If you���re unsure of your options, take a look at the WAC website or ask around at one of the fitness areas. The key to success is realizing your desire to truly live a healthy life. Once you do that, the rest will follow. Group Fitness Supervisor Debbie Officer can be reached at dofficer@wac.net. AMANDA RAMSEY If you are thinking about weight loss and are frustrated that you���ve failed at previous attempts, it���s time to change how you think. Accomplishing weight loss and improving fitness starts with a change of lifestyle. Instead of saying, ���I need to lose weight,��� begin by saying, ���I want to live a long and healthy life.��� 4 Sleep soundly