While looking for a description for 2010, I stumbled upon several – the year of the tiger (the Chinese calendar), the year of baby steps (in the economy) – but I really prefer “The Year of the Revolution.” We often hear of New Year’s Resolutions, but make note, this is not simply a haphazard decision to eat better and work out until the BCS National Championship game, this is the year of the Revolution, a fundamental change in the way we think about our bodies, our finances, our relationships, our society and our health. The following are the DAC’s top tips for beginning this transformation:
- Have a plan.
One of January’s biggest mistakes is heading to the gym or out on the road without a plan of action. When we’re headed to war against our stress or those holiday pounds, it’s imperative to know when and how to properly attack. How much cardio should I be doing? Do I need to lift weights? What about stretching and rest? What should I eat? All of these questions should be answered in your plan as you begin to take action.
- Be proactive about difficulties.
Things are not going to slow down in order for you to add a healthy lifestyle. It’s important to foresee the difficulties we’re going to have with our plan and set up positive outcomes for when they arrive. This keeps us from having to make the decision in the heat of the moment – we’ll already have our mind made up.
- Hire a trainer or get a coach.
I’m always intrigued by the fact that superstar athletes have several coaches and trainers and yet the average male thinks, “Why would I need a trainer? I know what I’m doing.” The truth of it is that a trainer or coach can be lots of different things – a motivator to get you to the gym when you want to head home, a teacher for new exercises, an encourager to keep you on the right track, a planner when you don’t know the next step to keep moving forward, a coach for tweaking your form, a role model when you need a healthy paradigm. Nor does a trainer have to be expensive – one hour a month at the cost of Saturday night’s dinner could get you a dynamic, progressive workout plan, a nutrition baseline, and a renewed energy in pursuing good health.
- Drink more water.
The fountain of youth might very well run with crystal clear water. What else can improve your muscle tone, enhance your skin, satisfy your appetite allowing you to eat less, increase the speed and strength of muscle contractions, and replace addictive behaviors like smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol.
- Eat less food made in plants and more food that grows on plants.
Eating naturally is one of the best health changes any individual can make. Simply replacing your bowl of cereal with fruit and eggs, your plate of enchiladas with a grilled chicken salad, your chocolate chip cookies with fresh berries, and your rice and pasta with grilled vegetables can make a huge difference in waistline, your energy levels, and your immune system. Try it for a day, a week, or even a month – don’t eat anything processed.
- Dial in your mindset.
If we have an attitude of success and positivity, we will have a much better chance of creating the outcomes we desire. In all things, Event + Response = Outcome. Rarely do we have control over the Events in our lives; we always have control over our Response. Eliminate the negativity and create the life you desire.
