The New Year is upon us…. are you ready to ring it in? 2021 will be here before you know it, and although this past month has been full of errands, sweet treats, and lounging around watching Christmas movies, it will all be over soon! Getting back to reality can stink. But, it can be even worse if you end up falling out of your health habits.
The holidays are full of family, fun, and activities. But, we often hear our patients talk about how they’ve been in a rut these past three weeks, without motivation to go back to working out and eating right. This mindset can continue on into the new year, and resolutions can be abandoned just as quickly as they began.
But there are things you can do to help you avoid the rut!
We’ve put together four things that will keep you on track to achieving your goals and staying healthy right into the new year.
Self Care
Although we try hard to exercise and keep a balanced diet, this time of year can be very hectic. We understand that sticking to your usual routine can be difficult when the day starts to get packed with unexpected tasks. If your routine gets thrown out the window around the holidays, you should try setting aside ten minutes of ‘me time’, allowing you to recharge and stay focused.
Offer Healthy Options
Whether you’re throwing the holiday party, or just attending, the buffet table doesn’t only have to consist of sweet treats and fatty foods. If you’re having people over for the holidays, create a table full of healthy options. Of course, balance is key.
So it’s not the end of the world to include a decadent dessert. Providing a majority of healthy foods will ultimately prevent you (and your guests) from being tempted by a large amount of desired delicacies. Even if you’re invited to the party. Choose to bring a wholesome dish that will guarantee that you keep on track with a balanced diet, even if the host has only provided unhealthy options.
Incorporate Citrus Into Your Diet
Detoxing in the morning is always a great way to begin the day. Adding lemon to a warm glass of water will provide your body with the vitamins and antioxidants it needs. This is especially important when you’re running on little sleep and having longer than normal days (typical around the holidays). This even has the power to boost your metabolism to kick start your busy day.
Keeping a pitcher of water with cut-up lemon in your fridge at all times will make it easier to get that glass of water in whenever you have the time. If you aren’t a fan of lemon, substitute it with cucumber or mint! And since everyone seems to suffer from a cold this time of year, you can reduce the chance of getting ill by adding a teaspoon of honey to your drink as well.
Listen to this podcast about popular health topics.
Switch Up Your Eating Habits for the New Year
There are many healthy alternatives that can be found for most holiday foods that tend to tempt us throughout the season. Swapping regular potatoes out for sweet potatoes or spaghetti noodles out for spaghetti squash (or even zoodles) can make a huge difference. Sweet potatoes can provide essential nutrients to your body, such as vitamin A and potassium.
Even swapping sugary or heavy cream drinks out for a glass of red wine can prove to be a healthier option. If you think eating healthy is boring, think again! You can always find a fun, healthy twist to put on your usual dishes.
Recovery
When trying to keep yourself going, things happen and it may not go the way you want it to. Many times New Years’ resolutions fall through because you burn out so quickly. With your healthy resolution in mind, you may try to change too quickly. When you go from not working out to working out every day your body may be confused about what’s going on.
This may cause your body to feel sore, achy, and maybe even painful. Now sometimes that can be just soreness but other times it may be more than that. Your back may feel pinched or your ankle has been hurting for days now. You think it’ll get better on its own or you just need to rest and stretch it out.
Preferred Physical Therapy, Glendale Arizona
Don’t continue living with pain and miss out on your New Years’ goals. At Preferred Physical Therapy in Glendale, Arizona we identify the root cause of your pain and create a personalized action plan for you to reach your goals. Our physical therapists take the time to know your story and want you to want to achieve and get out of physical therapy.
They spend one-on-one hands-on treatment time with you and give you specific exercises. You are not just left in a room alone to complete these exercises. Our therapists watch over you to make sure you do them correctly to get the most benefit from everything you do. If you’re ready to live pain-free and avoid painkillers and surgery then click below to arrange your FREE telephone consultation to see if we are a perfect fit for you.
Check out the “Health” category on my blog page for even more practical advice on how to continue to maintain your health.
If you have questions or concerns, call or text one of our PTs at 623.486.3333.
Dr, Nick’s greatest passion is seeing his patients recover from injury and return to their activities that bring them joy.
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