11.28.09

Thanksgiving-to-new years can be a minefield for people trying to stick to a fitness plan.  It is very stressful on our body systems when we have wide swings in our body weight.  We all think that "This time, I'm not going to gain it back!" Unfortunately statistics show that most of us will.  This is why *diets don't work*.  What does work is a LIFESTYLE CHANGE.  But only if you have realistic expectations, good support and choose a plan you can stick with that gives you moderate change over a long time.  Lifestyle change constitutes a plan for food intake, an increase physical activity, managing your stress without food and get treatment for depression or other illnesses that get in the way.  This is another goal of my blog is to give everyone a little help on making that lifestyle change, with tips, tricks, ideas and things that really work.  I think equally important to making that lifestyle change is to give yourself a break if you do over indulge at some point so you stay on track and don't feel like a failure.  Create a balance by implementing "pass days".  And believe me, I use "pass days" for more than food, sometimes exercise or whatnot.  The key is keeping your "pass days" to a minimum and don't get so angry that you messed up that you don't get back on that horse.  Remember that you are breaking habits and starting new ones, there is no reason that you might mess up now and again.
~ko