It's New Year's Day, and you have a clean slate.
I don't know if you are one to make New Year's Resolutions or not, but either way you're probably thinking about how you can become fitter, healthier and happier than you are right now.
These 27 Fitness and Fat Loss Tips will get you on the right track for this New Year: 1. Visualize the accomplishment of your goals each and every day. Experience the taste of success and feel that sweet satisfaction.
2. Push the intensity of your workouts. Don't kill time, burn calories by maintaining a challenging intensity.
3. Use smaller plates at home. This effortlessly reduces calorie intake and promotes weight loss.
4. Build accountability into your workouts so that you resist the temptation to take days off. The best way to ensure accountability is to work with a personal trainer either one-on-one or in a group training setting.
5. Believe in yourself. Know with conviction that you CAN accomplish your goals.
6. Drink water throughout your day. Do this by carrying a water bottle and opting for water rather than calorie-filled beverages. This simple action is extremely beneficial.
7. Maintain your metabolism by eating a healthy snack or meal every three hours. This food should be unprocessed, low in fat and high in fiber.
8. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
9. Incorporate High Intensity Interval Training into your cardio workouts by performing bursts of high intensity rather than exercising at a single steady pace.
10. It's not about will-power, it's about want-power. You have to want it.
11. Do not eat processed foods. These items are high in empty calories and contain a plethora of chemicals that are harmful to your health.
12. Stop talking about losing weight. Start doing it.
13. Fat contains twice the caloric density of carbohydrates and protein, so limit the amount that you consume. Fill your diet with lean protein and carbohydrates from plants and whole grains.
14. Be wary of products that are labeled as ‘health food'. Always read the nutrition labels.
15. Find a workout partner who is in better shape than you, or better yet work with a personal trainer to guarantee dramatic results.
16. Make a habit out of reading nutrition labels. Avoid items that are high in fat and carbohydrates.
17. Destroy negative self talk.
18. Avoid the trap of high-calorie beverages after your workouts.
19. Be consistent with your workouts. Exercise three to four times each week.
20. Expect more of yourself.
21. High fructose corn syrup should not be in your diet. It is high in calories and will quickly derail your weight loss efforts.
22. Challenge your body with each workout. Use different weights, do different exercises and break through plateaus.
23. Eat lots of whole plant foods. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains are filled with fiber and antioxidants, vital for your good health.
24. Do your cardiovascular exercise after weight training to ensure more fat burn. Your stored sugars will be depleted during the weight training then your body will rely on fat stores to get you through the cardio workout.
25. Set specific, measurable goals.
26. Start each day with a healthy breakfast. This important meal should be a balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat to get your metabolism going strong.
27. You deserve better...go get it.
Healthy Winter Hash
This simple recipe is the perfect meal for a chilly winter day. It is packed with tender vegetables, filled with protein and can be made with chicken or as a vegetarian dish. Serve it with a salad for a quick and healthy meal that the whole family will love.
Yield: 6 servings
Here's what you need...
2 medium yellow potatoes, peeled and diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 large carrots, peeled and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 cups chicken, cooked and cubed (or 1 package firm tofu, drained and cubed)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 can lowfat chili
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl combine all of the vegetables and chicken. Drizzle the olive oil and mix to coat. Add the thyme, salt and garlic powder.
Spread the mixture on a baking sheet, and cover well with foil. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
Remove the foil and turn on the broiler. Broil until the vegetables are nicely browned, about 8 minutes.
Top each serving with a scoop of warmed chili.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 230 calories, 4g fat, 28g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 20g protein.
The New Year's Resolution Trap
Are you making a New Year's Resolution today? If you do, keep this in mind: It has been reported that 92% of New Year's Resolutions end in failure. Why? Because most people make resolutions that are simply unrealistic. They quickly get discouraged and then abandon the idea entirely.
To ensure that you accomplish your New Year's Resolution, stick with a goal that is realistic rather than intimidating. Check out these examples:
Instead of resolving to lose 70 pounds by summer, commit to exercise 3-4 times each week.
Instead of resolving to give up all carbs, commit to bring healthy lunches to work instead of going through a fast food drive thru.
Instead of resolving to drop 3 sizes in 3 months, commit to losing 1 pound each week until you reach your goal weight.
Instead of resolving to never eat out again, commit to eating healthy all week and rewarding yourself with one meal out on the weekends.
