Toxic New Year’s Resolutions

With the start of the New Year, many people resolve to achieve better health. However, achieving this goal can be extremely difficult. In fact, the kinds of goals you choose are just as important as how you achieve them. Here are five New Year’s resolutions that can be more harmful than helpful on your road to reaching a healthy you.

Exercising 7 Days a Week

It’s a better idea to set an exercise goal that will accommodate the realities of working out. Committing to seven days fails to give your body a rest period and could result in muscle soreness or even damage. It’s a better idea to develop a plan that addresses your body’s needs while building in rest days.

Cutting Out All Carbs

Carbs are actually an important energy resource for the body. Cutting all carbs could result in a variety of issues ranging from over-eating to low-energy to memory fogginess. It’s a better idea to simply reduce the carbs in one’s diet. In fact, a research article entitled “Weight and metabolic outcomes after 2 years on a low-carb vs. low-fat diet: a randomized trial” found that participants on a low-carb diet lost more weight than those on a low-fat diet.

Quitting Bad Habits Cold Turkey

By definition, habits are things we do often; in other words, our bodies and minds expect them. It’s a much safer resolution to gradually reduce bad habits such as sugar, cigarettes, or alcohol consumption gradually than it is to stop altogether. Going cold turkey can result in many physical withdrawal symptoms, such as those listed on Healthline.com’s article on quitting nicotine. Gradually reducing intake allows the body to wean off, which will likely result in fewer withdrawal symptoms and an ultimately healthier body.

Going on a Fad Diet

Fad diets are aptly named; they fade in and out of popularity specifically because they rarely offer long-term benefits. According to Webmd.com, “Fad diets don’t help you keep off the weight long term.” It’s a much better idea to eat a well-rounded and calorie conscious diet. Skip the fad diets and consider following the USDA’s healthy eating recommendations. Checking out products from HealthSmart are so delicious that you won't even have to worry about going on a fad diet again!

Jumping into the New Year

Remember the tortoise? He won the race. Slow and steady changes will ultimately offer long-term rewards. Instead of jumping into the new year, greet it with a handshake and begin to build a strong, lasting relationship with it. Consider the most effective ways to meet your health goals and develop a plan that will result in slow but steady changes.

When making New Year’s resolutions it’s a good idea to create clear, conscious goals. Instead of stating “I will lose weight” create the clear goal of “I will lose 2 pounds every month.” The clearer your goals, the clearer your steps will be in achieving them. And remember: celebrate each success—it makes all your hard work worth it.

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