A New Beginning - A Time Of Making Resolutions

Oct. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- Here we go again, a new beginning, a time of making resolutions, setting goals and hoping for a positive outcome. One of the most popular resolutions has to do with health, in particular, our exercise and eating habits. The holidays are over and we feel plump and lethargic. Eat, drink and be merry has both positive (it makes us feel good at the time) and negative (it makes us feel bad later) consequences. Hordes of people flock to the gym and join weight loss programs only to fall off the band wagon at the end of February if they even make it that long. Now there is nothing wrong with joining a health club or a weight loss program however, before you run out and purchase a treadmill, a gym membership or join a weight loss program, ask yourself some simple intuitive questions. By understanding your movement, nutrition and motivation style, you will be better equipped to succeed.

Your Movement Personality

Do you know your preferred movement style? What kind of movement do you enjoy doing in your everyday world? If you have never enjoyed running, do you really think that you will stick with a running program, no matter how many calories it might burn? So answer the following questions. - Do you like to compete and love fast-paced adventure? - Do you like to stroll around unrushed, evenly paced and having a sense of balance? - Are you more into schedules and structures, paying attention to detail and dislike interruption to your routine? - Do you prefer free-form movement, unplanned events and spontaneity?

If you like competition and fast paced adventure, outdoor sports, a running and weight training combo program, step or body pump classes or a spinning class might work well for you.

If you prefer to stroll unrushed, try yoga, pilates, tai chi, walking outdoors and balance ball resistance programs.

If you are driven by structure and routine you might do well with structured movement classes, a running or walking program, or a cardio/weight training combo session.

If you enjoy free form movement then take a dance class such as African, ecstatic or belly dancing. Try tai chi, yoga, pilates, spinning or a circuit training class.

Understanding your preference will help you to decide what type of movement will be right for your movement personality. Will you be more successful with a cardio/weight training combo, step classes, spinning, yoga, Pilates, tai chi, a walking program, dancing, outdoor sports, a combination of these or a myriad of other possibilities? By participating in a movement style that fits your movement personality, you increase your chances to succeed in your goal.

Nutrition and You

Ask yourself these questions in regard to nutrition. It will help you to decide the best route to take for weight loss and improving nutrition. - Have you been successful or unsuccessful at previous attempts to improve your diet? - Do you have possible hidden food allergies that affect your weight? - Are you taking medication that can be affecting your weight? - Do you have certain dietary needs for any current health issues? - Are you willing to keep a food log? - What foods do you currently eat that nourish all aspects of your being? - What foods do you currently eat that do not provide your being with nourishment? - Does the program that you are considering have an exercise component? - Are there emotional issues that are contributing to your body size? - Do you require support from your friends and family? Are they likely to support you? - What is the success rate of the program that you are considering? - Does the program promise quick results or does it focus on permanent lifestyle changes?

If you have been unsuccessful with your nutrition plan before, consider getting help. You can join a program such as Weight Watchers, or see a nutritionist or dietician to help you. There are many online sites that can help also.

If you have been successful in the past, start again by determining the behaviors that worked for you before.

If you believe that you might have food allergies, consider a diet that helps you discover the culprits. There are many books available on food allergies and doctors or nutritionists that can guide you through the process of discovery.

If you are on medication, or have health issue that are contributing to nutrition issues, discuss this with a qualified physician and ask him for dietary referrals if necessary.

Consider keeping a food log or diary and record the time of day you are eating, what you are eating, portion size, where you are eating, and what you were feeling at the time. A food diary will allow you to see any trouble spots in your eating and also allow you to see where you eat healthy and well. Then you can change the habits that are not serving your well being. A food diary also will highlight any emotional eating issues. Knowing your triggers is the first step to change.

Consider getting help from a qualified therapist if you are struggling with emotional eating issues. If the dietary program that you are consider does not have an exercise component then it would serve you to find one that does. The key to weight loss is that your calories in need to be less than your calories out. That means eating less than you expend and the most efficient way to expend calories is to move your body, build lean muscle mass, and increase cardiovascular efficiency.

Support is an important component to being able to make changes in our habits. Besides family and friends, there are a host of weight loss, and dietary support groups locally, as well as online support groups. Support from others gives us encouragement to succeed and to be accountable for our choices.

Consider the success rate of any program that you are considering. If their claims sound to good to be true, they probably are. Check the program out thoroughly before committing your time and resources.

Nutrition can be tricky. The information available can be mind boggling and confusing at best. It's important to be aware of where you get your nutritional information so that you know the source or sources to go to and get your nutritional needs met. Do you get your nutritional information from books, newspaper and magazine articles and television or do you get your nutritional information from your intuitive body; what foods promote health in YOUR body and help YOU to feel well?

Your Most Valuable Asset Is You

Invest in yourself! Go on, you deserve it! You are your most valuable asset. If you have struggled with success in the past or if you want long lasting results, hire someone to help you. There are many qualified fitness and nutrition specialists that can help you with goal achievement. Life coaching, NLP, hypnosis or counseling is available to assist you with motivation strategies and in uncovering and resolving issues that keep you stuck. No matter what your resolution is, there is help available. Invest in yourself first. Even if you take great care of yourself, you most likely have a friend or loved one that needs your support and encouragement in making healthy choices in life.

Many of us choose to wait until we are in a health crisis or another life crisis before we invest time and money in our health and well being. Instead of actively participating in preventive health measures, we are reactive, choosing to put out health fires instead, spending small fortunes on prescription and over-the-counter medication. Just look at the statistics on obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and other diet and exercise related illnesses. Your body is holy; it is a temple. You would not even consider doing the damage to a spiritual temple structure that you do to your body. So get on it! Now is the time to invest in your health, your body, your temple! What are you waiting for?

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I am The Soul Power Coach, mentor, speaker, trainer and author. I help entrepreneurs move out of self sabotage and limiting beliefs so that they can make more money and experience more fun, joy and freedom in their business and in their life. http://PurposeToPassionToProfits.com