The Keys to Getting Healthy This New Year

Now that the gluttonous holiday season has just ended, you may be a couple of pounds heavier than you were a few months ago. But have no fear- it’s a new year! This is the time to make those New Year’s resolutions that get you back in shape.

Before you start setting all of these weight loss goals for 2013, it is important to know HOW to make a New Year’s resolution. Year after year, people make daunting and impractical resolutions that they are unable to keep. When people realize they are unable to reach their goals, they stop making any kind of progress.

To avoid this, you should “set small, short-term and realistic goals,” says Dr. Jim Hagberg, a kinesiology professor at the University of Maryland.

New Year’s resolutions are not one-size-fits-all, Hagberg explains. A good New Year’s resolution caters to the individual’s lifestyle and needs. For example, a physically inactive person is not going to aim to run three miles a day. Instead, a physically inactive person should make it his goal to simply start walking 30 minutes each day.

After making your resolution, it is time to start getting healthy so you can reach your goal. To get in shape, you should do at least 30 minutes of moderate to intense exercise everyday, Hagberg says. The difficult part is finding activities that you will continue to do.

Megan Rufty, a sophomore broadcast journalism major, uses the workout video Insanity to exercise. “Insanity gives a person variety in their workout, keeping them entertained and wanting to come back,” she says.

To get healthy this year, you need to do more than just exercise. You also need to eat right and monitor the amount of calories you consume. Elizabeth Swartz, a junior sociology major, eats small portions and stays away from sweets to stay healthy.

Even when eating out, Swartz watches her caloric intake. “I read the online menu to understand the nutritional information before eating out,” she says.

By simply exercising and watching what you eat, you are on track to achieving your New Year’s resolution. Just remember to set realistic goals that you know you can stick to.