New Year’s Resolution
A new take on battling the holiday bulge
So you let yourself indulge over the holidays. If that means you enjoyed yourself, good for you. But if your jeans are a little tighter and you’re noticing it’s not as easy to climb a few flights of stairs as it used to be, now’s the time to make your health a priority. Here are a few tips to keep you on track.
• Studies show that short intervals of high intensity activity burn more calories than long periods of medium to low intensity activity. So instead of a forty-five minute walk, do 10 sets of quick sprints.
• Mix up your regular weightlifting routine by jumping rope for three minutes in between sets. It will get your heart rate way up while increasing your balance, muscle tone and coordination. Plus, jumping rope burns up to 1000 calories an hour!
• When you go out to eat with a friend, split a meal. If your friend doesn’t want to share, ask the server to box up half of the meal before it’s delivered to your table. Speaking of sharing, find a friend who’d be interested in splitting the cost of a personal trainer. You’ll have double the motivation!
• Trick yourself into eating less by investing in smaller dishes. Our tendency is often to fill the plate, the bowl or the glass. If the dish is smaller, you’ll automatically eat smaller portions.
• Instead of cutting donuts and potato chips out of your diet, add grapefruit, sweet potatoes and other healthy choices. Focusing on the good foods you’re eating will help you forget about the unhealthy foods. Plus, you’ll stay satisfied longer, so you won’t feel the urge to snack on high calorie, high fat items.