Keep Knocking Those New Year’s Resolutions Right Out of the Park!

This MLK holiday brings us just beyond the we’re two-weeks-into-2017 mark. So how are those health and fitness goals taking shape?

If you haven’t thrown in the towel on your plans to move more and make healthier choices in your diet – kudos to you! I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it again: it takes at least six weeks to embrace new habits. (Just think -you’re about one-third of the way there!) I know it’s not easy being patient in our world that thrives on instant gratification.

So for this week’s Motivation Monday, I offer a super simple action plan: add just one healthy action to your to-do list for each day of the week ahead. For example:

Tuesday: Fill one shelf or bin in the fridge with reusable containers or baggies filled with chopped veggies and other grab-and-go snacks. Each day, you can take one to work or school and you’ll always have a healthy option waiting for you if you need a snack at home.

Wednesday: Take the stairs to the office instead of the elevator.

Wednesday: Wake up 15 minutes earlier to bang out two Tabatas and stretch.

Thursday: Instead of heading to happy hour, grab a friend or two and try a group exercise class.

Friday: DVR your favorite program and spend those 30 to 60 minutes enjoying some quality time with family or friends.

Saturday/Sunday: Enjoy some time with Old Man Winter with a brisk walk or if you’re lucky enough to get some snow, you can always burn some calories with an enthusiastic snowball fight!

I wrap this holiday post with the words of a very inspirational leader who we stop to remember especially today. Whether it’s tackling the next level of your health and fitness goals or dealing with the struggles of every day life, we can all take a cue from the remarkable Martin Luther King, Jr. to help us on our  journey to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” 

“We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.”