Back To Basics: Keeping your Health Resolutions

It’s mid-February and you’ve already forgotten your New Year’s health resolutions. Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one.

Why are so many people unable to meet their health and fitness goals? You might have a vision of where you want to be – twenty pounds lighter, have more energy or run a marathon. Whatever it is, it’s far from where you are now.

That’s okay, right? You’re told to “think big”. Set big goals, “the sky’s the limit!” Well, I’m here to tell you to think small.

Let’s take a look at the goal of running a marathon. There’s nothing wrong with that. But have you run around your block yet?

People who run marathons run every day. They sleep well and recover. They eat loads of healthy food. They stretch, get massage therapy, cross train and weight lift. There’s a lot of small things that go into running 26.2 miles without stopping.

Thinking big without thinking small is like building castles in the sky. Castles are built on solid foundations – or they sink. Health goals are built on a foundation of small habits and routines – or they fail.

I don’t know exactly what your health goals are, but I do know I can help you with your foundation.

There are three things that must be part of every goal, health or otherwise. The better you are at these three things, the more of a chance you have at achieving your bigger goal.

They are sleep, hydration, and nutrition. These are the foundation of everything.

Sure, you get enough rest, water, and calories. If you didn’t, you’d be dead. What concerns us is the quality of these three things. There is a difference between trying to put in a good workout when you’ve slept 4 hours versus 8 hours. If you haven’t hydrated and eaten enough healthy carbs, you may as well not even start.

Make sleep, hydration, and nutrition your focus for the next month. By setting the foundation, you’ll have more energy to tackle your goals.

Sleep better by settling down earlier. Turn off your electronic devices and dim the lights one hour before bed. Keep your bedroom dark and cool. Make sure you go to bed early enough to get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Hydrate better by drinking a pint of water first thing in the morning. Water is more important than your coffee! Keep water with you wherever you go. Drink another pint before every meal that you eat. Your urine should be very light yellow or clear. See how much clearer your mind is when you pee clear!

Eat better! Eat more fruit, vegetables, whole grains and beans and you will eat healthier. If you still eat meat and dairy, eat less. Even better, give them up. Drop oil and processed foods from your diet.

I know this sounds simple enough. But be honest with yourself, can you do better at these three things? Chances are the answer is yes.

Believe me when I say that nothing else is possible unless you set your foundation. If you’d like a way to set habits in these areas, click the link below to download a handy chart. Set your goals and keep them on your fridge!

Back To Basics Chart