Getting Back on Track – Today!

If you’re like most people, you may be tempted to have a definite starting point for getting your health back on track.

·       “Next month, I’m going to start getting my butt to the gym again.”

·       “For my New Year’s Resolution, I am finally going to lose those 20 pounds I picked up in college.”

·        “No more chocolate!! Starting after my birthday, that is…”

·        “Once I get through the holidays this year, I’m going to start paying more attention to my portion sizes…”

Oftentimes, this starting point is set somewhere in the future. We’re tempted to put off improving our lifestyle habits, just for a little longer. These changes tend to seem less intimidating if we plan on doing them in the distant future.

Improving your health is not something worth procrastinating. Your body doesn’t know if it’s Friday or Monday, if it’s November 18^th or January 1^st, or if today is a special occasion or if it’s just another day.

What if you started now? Today? Right this minute?

These changes don’t have to be drastic. Try making small, realistic improvements over time, and keep in mind the concept of “progress, not perfection” that we talked about last week.

Many times, people feel like that donut they “sneaked” during their morning meeting threw them off track completely and that the day was just scrapped from that point forward. They think, “Oh well, I already ruined my diet for the day, I might as well take a second slice of pizza at lunch, enjoy a big sundae tonight, and start over again tomorrow.”

Don’t get frustrated if things don’t go as perfectly as planned, and don’t get down on yourself about “screwing up your diet.” Your health is made up of an average of all the lifestyle habits you have over time, not just one decision for one meal – things can balance out quite nicely if you let them.

So, no more waiting. Let’s start today. This doesn’t have to knock your typical habits completely off-kilter, either. If you were planning on going out with a friend or date tonight (it is Friday, after all), you don’t have to change your plans entirely. Try getting a house salad for a side instead of the French fries, or bring home a bit of your entrée as leftovers to enjoy later this weekend. Instead of shopping at just one department store tomorrow afternoon, walk around the mall and window shop as well. Yes, that’s right. A dietitian just advised you to go shopping in the name of health. J

Just goes to show, a healthy lifestyle can be fun and fulfilling; there’s no need to feel left out. After all, by taking care of yourself, you’re adding value to your life, not subtracting it.

Remember, you are living your life now, not next week, next month, or next year. Why not start acting like it, and begin working on your health goals today?

Good luck! Let me know how it’s going.

Anna