Time to Make Changes in the New Year

by Paula Allia PT, DHSc, MTC, OCS

Did you ever think about transforming your body and mind? If so, what are the most important changes you would have to make in order to actually see and feel the results?

Many people have discussed their good and bad habits, always having a perfect excuse for the bad ones. There is no time like the new year to make positive changes to your everyday life. Procrastination only allows habits to remain unchanged which in turn, makes them harder to break.

Attempting to make a change in one’s life may sound simple but it is common that initiating change can go either way. Some people will jump right in and be fully committed while others struggle to maintain their new attempts to improve old habits. Remember this: The further into a change one makes, especially if positive results are evident, the easier it is to comply. Keep this in mind while you ponder the changes that you need to make to give you a better version of yourself.

Obvious to most is that eating properly, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying your job are all components of improving one’s body and mind. The problem is trying to execute what is evident. It is not so easy. Everybody seems to have some self-destructive habit and it is time to recognize that bad and change them.

For those who know how to cook this could be a fantastic fact because controlling what you actually cook can be more healthy than eating out all of the time. Preparing meals with allot of vegetables and some fruits can provide a healthy balance of nutrition along with protein. There are many ideas out there. Fad diets exist and most have tried one if not many of these over the course of their lifetime. There is a lot of new evidence to support the intermittent fasting idea. This is so that the hours you are not eating your body can try and heal itself from the damages createdby habits or lack of exercise.

The most important thing that one should do is to make a lifestyle change and let the newer healthy changes become habit. If you diet only, as soon as you start going back to your old habits, the weight can creep back on. Your psyche gets affected, and you fail.

Everybody loves to be successful, but it takes work.

Exercising has been proven to make a positive impact on your longevity. The newest evidence suggests some cardio but especially developing a weight training strategy.

Let’s move forward towards a better you! These are the building blocks of getting back to a sound mind and body. All of these recommendations can have a positive impact on your immune system as Covid continues and flu season arrives.

• Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water a day. Water is needed for most of the chemical reactions in your body so provide it with this basic necessity.•
• Get into a normal sleeping pattern. The body likes routine and changing your sleeping habits too much can have a negative effect on the body.
• Exercise daily and incorporate weight training. Fitness Together in downtown Naples has been the leader locally for 20 years and it is right in your neighborhood. Let the experts help you get started today!

If you do not want to go to a physical facility, virtual training has become the other option and Fitness Together has been doing this for the past 15 years! It can be seamless and provide you with a similar program as when you are physical in a fitness center.

Take back control of your habits. Own them and change those that you do not like.

If you need help getting to a better place, please call Fitness Together at (239) 263-9348 (335 14th Avenue South) and we can guide you in the right direction.

Here’s To Your Health!