Let me guess… On the 1st of January, whilst battling a nasty hangover, you promised yourself that THIS year, you’re going to lose weight and exercise more. Sound familiar? You’re not alone! They’re some of the most common New Year’s resolutions, and so they should be!
As a nation, we’re getting more overweight and less active. Findings released in the 2017-2018 National Health Survey indicated that over two thirds (67%) of Australians are overweight or obese, up from 63.4% in 2014-2015. It’s not that surprising, considering that only 15% of adults are meeting the recommended exercise guidelines!
Being overweight or obese has a seriously negative impact on health and well-being. It increases the risk of developing a range of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. While exercising helps to keep your waistline in check, it’s not the only reason to keep moving. Being physically active also reduces your risk of chronic illness, improves your mental health and gives you more energy.
Most of us know the benefits of being active, just like we know the risks of being overweight. And yet, here we are… making those same resolutions year after year.
So – New Year, new you?
Despite good intentions, making the resolution to be healthier is only the start. Research shows that only 8% of people actually stick to their resolutions! Many give up in the first few weeks of the year. Why? Lots of reasons. You go back to work. You get busy. You’re tired. It’s hard. And maybe, you weren’t that committed in the first place.
If you’ve already started to lose grip on your resolution to exercise more, here are our tips for staying on track.
How to stick to your New Year’s resolution:
1. Set realistic goals
If you’ve never really exercised, telling yourself that you’re going to workout for an hour every day is just not realistic. If you skip a session or only have time for a short walk, you’ll end up feeling like you’ve failed (and probably give up altogether). Instead, start by setting a series of realistic short term goals. Commit to walking 10 minutes, 3 times a day, on most days. Gradually increase the duration and intensity until you’re getting enough exercise.
2. Talk to your GP
If you’re living with, or are at risk of a chronic illness, knowing how to start exercising safely can be tough. Talk to your GP… They can refer you to an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) to help use exercise to prevent, treat or manage your chronic condition. Services provided by an AEP are often claimable under medicare or your private health insurance.
3. Do something you like
Here’s the thing – if you hate it, you won’t do it. There are MANY ways to be active and what works for one person won’t work for another. If you hate running, there’s no point pounding the pavement. Try swimming, go to a dance class or hit up a Pilates class. Mixing up your routine will help to keep you motivated.
4. Get help from an expert
No matter how good your intentions, sometimes we all need a little help. It’s important to find the right expert for your needs. If you want to find an exercise professional near you, click here – we’ve got over 8000 university qualified experts, all over Australia, ready to help you get healthier in 2019.
