5 Tips to Help You Hold onto Your Health and Fitness Resolutions
What happens about three weeks after the New Year holiday? Quitting happens, according to the fitness website strava.com. “Quitters Day,” January 19, is when many people abandon their fitness-related New Year’s resolutions. By some other accounts, 80% of us will last a little bit longer, giving up exercising and eating healthier around the first week of February.
Quitter’s Day is probably not something you intend to observe. But with such a huge portion of people losing their resolve, it makes sense to do everything in your power to avoid becoming a statistic. Our board-certified podiatrists have five tips you can implement right now to keep yourself on track:
- Set yourself up for success. For example, spend an afternoon cooking healthy foods you can eat all week. If you’re planning to stop at the gym after work, pack your duffel and put it in the car the night before so it’s harder to make excuses.
- Invest in the right gear. You don’t have a duffel to pack for the gym? It’s a good idea to get one, making step #1, above, more attainable. Wear the proper shoes for your activity to help avoid goal-crushing foot and ankle injuries. Stock your fridge and pantry with the right gear, too – heart-healthy whole foods and drinks, minus the sugar and anything processed.
- Break it down into smaller goals. Running fast and far right out of the gate can set you up for overuse injuries. Take it slowly, alternate walking and running, and build your speed gradually. Similarly, start small with your weight loss goals. Focus on losing 10 pounds by spring – a much more manageable goal than “I’m going to lose weight this year.”
- Call a buddy. If you’re wavering, get some support from a similarly health-minded friend.
- Keep looking forward. If you miss a couple of days of exercise or indulge in a little too much birthday cake, don’t abandon all hope. Simply put it behind you and hop back on track the next day.
If foot or ankle problems prevent you from reaching your health and fitness goals, call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio, at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg. Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, and Dr. Jim Swienconek, are your partners in good health.
