You’ve made a resolution to be get in shape and/or stay healthier in 2019. That is commendable, and certainly a worthwhile goal.
You’re not alone. A survey conducted in January 2018 showed that the number one resolution – made by 53% of the respondents – was to save money. Very close behind, at 45%, was to lose weight or get in shape. People who make this resolution go about executing it in a variety of ways: changing their diets, exercising more often, and lowering their stress levels, to name a few.
However, statistics show that only 9.2 percent of people ever achieve their New Year's resolutions and break free from their bad habits. The same article explains that there are two major reasons why people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions, despite having all good intentions of meeting them:
- We end up with a long list of trying to do everything at once, relying on our emotions to keep us motivated until we achieve them. This process results in setting too many expectations and creating unrealistic goals.
- Our goals are not specific enough. We say things like, “I resolve to be healthier,” or “I’m going to get into better shape.” But these resolutions are far too general. The goal itself is fine, but if we don’t define the specific actions we will take to get there, we’re doomed to failure.
The good news is, these roadblocks can be overcome, with some forethought and effort. There are scores of articles proposing different methods for staying on track, but we’ve found what we think are the two approaches most commonly mentioned.
- Change one behavior at a time. According to the American Psychological Association, you shouldn’t bite off more than you can chew. Don’t try to change all of your bad habits at once. Don’t get overwhelmed and think that you have to reassess every bad habit in your life. Instead, work toward changing one thing at a time. When you feel like you’ve made substantial progress, then you can move on to the next thing.
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Be very specific. Saying you want to be healthier is an admirable goal. But you need to define exactly how you’re going to do it. So, if you want to be healthier, perhaps you can create two realistic, actionable ways to get there. Resolve to go to the gym twice a week (or more, if you think you can handle it), and set a specific calorie count for your daily intake. The more specific the action, the better chance you have of reaching your ultimate objective. Try not to undertake too many at one time. Take on one or two, and when you feel you’ve made them part of your daily routine, add another, then another.
Armed with these two pieces of solid advice, you should know that if you decide that improving your health is your primary resolution, ITA-MED can be instrumental in helping you get there:
- Our graduated compression hosiery can help improve your circulation and give you more energy while eliminating the chances of blood clots.
- If you’re going to work out more often, our MAXAR braces and supports will help you recover from the sprains, strains and muscle issues you might incur.
- Our Gabrialla brand Maternity Belts will help provide excellent support for your growing stomach as you take long walks to stay fit while pregnant.
These are only a few of the products we have to support and sustain you as you make 2019 your healthiest year ever. This is the time that many people are already starting to break their New Year’s resolutions. Remember: make one resolution at a time; create simple, actionable items; and if your resolution is to improve your health, make ITA-MED your trusted teammate.