This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Reebok.
So if I’m being completely honest, I have to tell you that 2010 was a Major Fail for me in the exercise department. Maybe my worst year yet.
Oh, I did a little walking here and there. And I cranked up a work-out DVD a time or five. But with the exception of a whole lot of swimming back in the summer, the words “daily exercise” weren’t in my vocabulary a whole bunch. And even though I know it sounds trite, and even though I know it sounds like millions of other people, I can’t help but tell myself that 2011 will be better.
(2011 will be better.)
(2011 will be better.)
(If I repeat it over and over, will that make all my fitness dreams come true?)
I have to say, though, that 2010 brought some really good changes in our eating habits. For whatever reason – and this was never anything that we sat down and planned – we gradually made a switch to a much simpler diet. Lots of vegetables, lots of whole grains, plus good-quality meats that are prepared very simply and flavorfully (is that a word?). And as a result of those changes, we’ve felt a lot healthier. My husband paired the smarter food choices with a regular work-out regimen, and he’s entering 2011 about thirty pounds lighter than he walked into it.
But now? It’s time for Mama here to get on board. Which means, among other things, that I may have to dial it back a notch or two on some of my favorite foods.
Oh, it is a blessing.
I know that if I set unrealistic goals (lose 40 pounds and/or fit into a tiny size and/or look like Heidi Klum and/or run a marathon), I’m just setting myself up for failure. I think a better strategy is to find two or three small things that I can do well and do consistently. The mental and emotional battle is just as big as the physical one, so I know that it’s super-important that I take that into account. So here’s what I’m thinking in the way of goals / changes / strategies for a better, healthier life in 2011:
1. Drink more water. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but diet soda and I have a little bit of a thing going on. We’ve had a thing going on for YEARS, in fact, and I really need to loosen my grip on those 12-ounce aluminum cans. The caffeine has a bit of a hold on me as well, so while going cold turkey (I just wrote “gold turkey,” which sounds like a fascinating albeit unrelated issue) isn’t the best option, drinking more water and less diet soda seems wise.
2. Go to bed earlier; wake up earlier. I have an unhealthy relationship with the snooze button. I tend to err on the side of burning the candle at both ends, which means I’m always trying to grab bits and pieces of sleep whenever I can – and because of that I tend to stay up too late and fight waking up in the mornings. This year I want to at least be in the bed at a more reasonable hour, and I’d like to wake up about fifteen minutes earlier in order to make my quiet time more of a priority. I’m a better, more even-tempered, more level-headed person when I set aside that time in the morning, and I want to do a better job of keeping that appointment with myself.
3. Move. I’ve never been a runner. I like the idea of being a runner, but I’ve decided that my transformation into a runner is just about as likely as teaching a cat to bark. However, I’ve had a lot of success in the past with walking. I really do enjoy it when I make a point to carve out the time for it (the time element is huge for me). This year I want to put on my walking shoes again (side note: I’m intrigued by the Reebok Easy Tones – I actually enjoy the process of toning up my legs, and I think the Easy Tones would make that process even quicker) and hit the trails behind our house. Walking three times a week would be a huge improvement for me, and it would also make that second goal I listed a whole lot easier.
So what about you? What’s one way you plan to improve your overall health and wellness this year? Leave a comment with your answer, and you’ll be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card. Plus, for more chances to win, just visit the Exclusive Offers section over at BlogHer.com
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