I wouldn't be surprised if all of us at one time or another has made a new year's resolution to lose weight. After a long string of holidays that seem to revolve around food (starting with Halloween and ending with New Year's Eve), most of us are probably anxiously waiting for January 1st to arrive so we can get a fresh new start at exercising regularly, eating healthy foods and losing those few pounds that may have crept up on us over the past few months.
Typically however, when people resolve to lose weight at the beginning of the year, the excitement wears off very quickly because the results they are looking for do NOT come quickly. When you have been diligent about exercising and eating right for weeks and weeks - and the scale doesn't seem to budge - it becomes easy to doubt yourself and your goals. All too often, it is at that point of frustration when the New Year's Resolution to lose weight, starts to fade away. Workouts can become more and more infrequent, unhealthy foods start creeping their way back into the pantry and eventually you are right back to where you started.
This year, I have a suggestion to avoid all of that. Instead of resolving to lose weight - which only sets you up for disappointment - make a resolution to GAIN MUSCLE! There is a natural positive switch in your thinking when you make an attainable goal like this one...and that in turn makes it easier to stick with! The wonderful thing about gaining muscle is that it is physically impossible to lift weights and engage in resistance training and not see results. And what happens when you start to see results? You are happy, you feel proud of yourself and you are excited to keep going! The best part about it is that increasing your muscle mass speeds up your metabolism, which helps you shed fat pounds even faster than if you didn't try to increase your muscle mass. On top of that, adding a regular cardiovascular workout to your weight training regimen - even if it's only 20 minutes a day - will speed up your results by melting away the fat you originally wanted to get rid of.
You may think this solution to a fizzling New Year's weight loss goal sounds too easy to actually work...but studies have shown that positive thinking can alter our lives in many different ways. Go ahead - give it a try. You will only benefit by trying this out. You'll gain more muscle, hold onto your excitement and see your body change shape right before your very eyes!
Typically however, when people resolve to lose weight at the beginning of the year, the excitement wears off very quickly because the results they are looking for do NOT come quickly. When you have been diligent about exercising and eating right for weeks and weeks - and the scale doesn't seem to budge - it becomes easy to doubt yourself and your goals. All too often, it is at that point of frustration when the New Year's Resolution to lose weight, starts to fade away. Workouts can become more and more infrequent, unhealthy foods start creeping their way back into the pantry and eventually you are right back to where you started.
This year, I have a suggestion to avoid all of that. Instead of resolving to lose weight - which only sets you up for disappointment - make a resolution to GAIN MUSCLE! There is a natural positive switch in your thinking when you make an attainable goal like this one...and that in turn makes it easier to stick with! The wonderful thing about gaining muscle is that it is physically impossible to lift weights and engage in resistance training and not see results. And what happens when you start to see results? You are happy, you feel proud of yourself and you are excited to keep going! The best part about it is that increasing your muscle mass speeds up your metabolism, which helps you shed fat pounds even faster than if you didn't try to increase your muscle mass. On top of that, adding a regular cardiovascular workout to your weight training regimen - even if it's only 20 minutes a day - will speed up your results by melting away the fat you originally wanted to get rid of.
You may think this solution to a fizzling New Year's weight loss goal sounds too easy to actually work...but studies have shown that positive thinking can alter our lives in many different ways. Go ahead - give it a try. You will only benefit by trying this out. You'll gain more muscle, hold onto your excitement and see your body change shape right before your very eyes!
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