In 2018, diet and exercise SMART
By Julie Jordan
Published January 3, 2018
The holidays are over, and the 2018 new year has begun. How do you successfully achieve and maintain diet and exercise goals? Georgia Department of Public Health Worksite Wellness Manager Carmen Daniel shares her expertise.
What is the best way to get back to a healthy diet and exercise after the holidays?
The new year has historically been a great time to adopt healthy habits, but unfortunately by February nearly 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals.
The key to getting back into a healthy diet and exercise program is to make a goal SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely). Write it down, and revisit it often. To maintain accountability, engage a friend, family member or coworker. Having a workout buddy keeps you on track throughout the year.
How do you make sure a healthy diet and exercise are sustainable long term?
Long-term success takes planning and deliberate action. Consistency is key to sustaining any long-term program. A habit is formed in 21 days – which may be the most challenging. After 21 days, a healthy diet and exercise program is much more sustainable. Enrolling in meal-prep programs and working with a certified personal trainer or health coach breaks up the monotony of food and exercise routines.
During the winter months, it is a challenge to exercise in the dark. What do you recommend?
Always remain vigilant, wear reflective gear, exercise in groups and respond to your body.
What are the new diet and exercise tips for 2018?
I predict many people will turn to a plant based or vegan diet. With chronic disease on the continual rise, and heart disease being among the leading causes of death, this could drastically change health outcomes for many Americans in the years to come.
Fitness trends will mirror those we saw in 2017 with HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) leading the way. In the wellness arena, movement-to-total-wellbeing is still on trend through mind-body classes such as yoga and Pilates.