Staying focused to heathier 2020 takes lifestyle change | Local News - Elizabethtown News Enterprise

Staying focused to heathier 2020 takes lifestyle change | Local News - Elizabethtown News Enterprise

One of the biggest ways to fail at a New Year’s resolution to be healthier, with a better diet and more exercise, is to not believe the journey you are embarking on is a lifestyle change, says a local fitness trainer.

“When you look at it as a fad and something to do because it’s a new year, it’s pretty tough to do well at it,” said Christopher Watts, owner of Mandatory Fun gym on Dixie Highway in Elizabethtown. “People rush into it and not think about it or have a plan to accomplish their goals; they just jump on the bandwagon because everyone else is doing it.”

Watts said it’s common for people to burst into a new year and work hard at physical fitness and to change eating habits when working out and pacing yourself provides greater benefits.

“Start out working out three times a week instead of Monday through Saturday,” he said. “You don’t go out and run a marathon on the first day you start to train for one.”

He said as far as changing eating habits, a slow pace and exercise helps you stay on course.

“When you start to feel better and see the difference you get caught up in it to keep working at it,” Watts said.

According to a 2018 U.S. News & World Report, 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February.

When it comes to getting healthier, Lincoln Trail District Health Department Health Promotion Manager and Public Information Officer Terrie Burgan said the first things many people focus on is cleaning up their diets and exercising more.

“Those changes alone can be really beneficial in improving heart health,” she said.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Combined with physical activity, Burgan said your diet can help reduce your chances of heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer.

“By making smart food choices, you can help protect yourself from these health problems,” she said.

According to Burgan, guidance to help individuals who want to eat healthier can be found within the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020. These guidelines emphasize: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts; low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars; and stay within your daily calorie needs.

The benefits of healthy eating overlap with the benefits of physical activity. For example, Burgan said physical activity also can help to maintain weight, reduce high blood pressure, reduce risk for type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and several forms of cancer, reduce arthritis pain and associated disability, reduce risk for osteoporosis and falls and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

“The amount of physical activity needed to see these improvements varies from person to person. Before starting any new regiment of physical activity, diet or otherwise a person should consult with their doctor,” she said.

“It can take up to two months before a person adopts a new habit or lifestyle change. Beginning with small changes may help a person stay on the path of becoming healthier,” Burgan said.

Watts agrees and said having patience also helps.

“It’s a process,” he said. “It takes time when you work out or when you change how you eat.”

2020-01-05 01:33:00Z
https://www.thenewsenterprise.com/news/local/staying-focused-to-heathier-takes-lifestyle-change/article_9c283599-81fe-5dc0-b01a-f92b94f87ffd.html

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