Never fear: It’s a New Year! Get back on track after too much holiday cheer
December 20, 2012
New Year, new you: the words bring inspiration to many. After struggling through the holiday season of sweets and treats, the New Year provides an ideal opportunity to get back into a healthy routine. Resolutions go into effect: pantries get cleaned out, running shoes appear by the front door again and bottles of water replace glasses of wine.
“In a perfect world, we’d all have survived the silly season while keeping up with our fitness regimes and minding what we consumed,” noted Exercise & Sports Science Australia’s (ESSA) Executive Officer, Anita Hobson-Powell.
“In actuality, however, many of us grant ourselves permission to ‘fall off the wagon’ for a few weeks in December. The beauty of January is that we can wipe the slate clean, get back into motion and renew our journey to good health. So our message is: never fear – it’s a New Year.”
Here are top tips for getting your wellbeing back on track after too much holiday cheer:
1. Pick yourself up and dust yourself off: Remember that every day is a new chance to start again. “Don’t beat yourself up over kilos gained during the holidays,” said Ms Hobson-Powell. After all, guilt doesn’t burn calories: exercising does.
2. Don’t aim for perfect. Skip those grandiose declarations that may not be achievable, such as, “I’ll go to the gym every single day.” Why set yourself up to potentially fail? “It’s far more fun to make realistic goals, and then celebrate successes,” shared Ms Hobson-Powell.
3. It takes two. Make only two resolutions. Keep them simple: “I will walk for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week”; or, “I will switch from full-cream coffees to skinny milk.” Then, commit to doing your best at fulfilling those two concise goals.
4. Reward yourself. No, not with desserts, but with a fun reminder that you’re back on track. Buy yourself a new fitness outfit – at post-Christmas sales prices – to boost your confidence as you work out. Or, sign up for a pleasurable activity you’ve always wanted to try, such as stand-up paddleboard lessons.
5. Friends are more fun. “Surely you’re not the only one ready to kick-start the New Year with healthy resolutions,” noted Ms Hobson-Powell. Find a friend who’s as committed as you, and book some morning walks, set a tennis date, or pop on your togs and grab a swim in the surf together.
6. Appreciate Australia. Antipodeans are luckiest of all when it comes to the New Year. Given it’s the height of warm weather, it’s a great time to indulge in outdoor sports, from bodysurfing in the summer swells to hinterland hikes in the cool of a rainforest. No excuses about having to don winter layers and brave the snow, like our Northern Hemisphere friends!
7. Bond with your family. January is the perfect opportunity for quality time with the kids. With schools out and many families enjoying a bit of a break, it’s a great chance to get the whole gang moving. Visit a theme park (think of all the walking you’ll do!), or engage in a rousing game of beach cricket.
8. Plan ahead. Do some good for the “future you”, starting now. New research[1] shows that the processes that cause the body to decline with age can be influenced positively through healthy eating and exercise. The trick is, you have to keep at it, even if you just make a small effort each day.
If you need help getting started, find your local accredited exercise physiologist by visitingwww.essa.org.au . Medicare may also fund treatment sessions if you suffer from a chronic health condition. Please see a GP for referral.
Ends.
For further media information, please contact Maya from Fresh PR & Marketing on 0410 109 102 or email maya@freshprm.com.au.
ABOUT ESSA
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) is the peak professional body for exercise and sports science in Australia, and provides national leadership and advocacy on key issues. ESSA supports its 3,500+ members and the community by fostering excellence in professional practice, education, training and research.
Website: www.essa.org.au
ABOUT EXERCISE IS MEDICINE®
Exercise is Medicine®, as an initiative of Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), aims to make physical activity and exercise a standard part of a disease prevention and treatment paradigm in Australia, improving community health and reducing long-term health care costs. The program hopes to make every Australian doctor consider physical activity and exercise as a standard part of treatment programs, resulting in more prescribed exercise for the prevention or treatment of chronic conditions.
The three guiding principles of Exercise is Medicine® Australia are designed to improve the health and well being of all Australians through regular physical activity prescription from doctors and other allied health providers. The guiding principles include:
· Physical activity and exercise are important to health, and to the prevention and treatment of many chronic diseases;
· More should be done to address physical activity and exercise in health care settings; and
· Doctors should support the referral of patients to appropriately trained allied health professionals to deliver exercise treatment services.
Official Media Spokesperson for this release:
Anita Hobson-Powell
Executive Officer
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA)
327 Sandgate Road Albion QLD 41010
E: Anita.Hobson-Powell@essa.org.au
P: 07 3862 4122 M: 0400 519 800
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