Tufts Department of Alcohol and Health Education

Since making my resolutions early this month, I’ve been averaging 2-3 days where I set aside time to be active. This has mostly looked like a 30 minute walk outside or on my home treadmill.

My last walk was on Saturday. I have a change of clothes in my car right now and had every intention of heading over to the fitness center today for a quick walk.

But…it’s cold outside.

And so my excuses begin. Maybe I need to read this post a few times.

I’ll try again tomorrow. How do you stay motivated to exercise in the cold weather?

Many people assume that just because I’m in the health field, that I must follow the healthiest lifestyle there is.  I have seen countless bags of chips or candy disappear under a desk when I walk in a room!

Well, let me break the spell. I’m human. While I love learning about health and wellness and helping others adopt healthier habits, I’m not always perfect and following my own advice. Admittedly, my fridge is stocked with fruits and veggies, I avoid fast food and I’m pretty fond of yoga, but there are some things I could be doing better.

So, why am I doing this?

1. We all know the basics to staying healthy: eat right, move more, manage stress, etc. It’s one thing to know what you should be doing, but another to know how. I hope by recording my experiences I can help with the “how to”.

2. I want to practice what I preach. I do believe in modeling the behaviors I hope others will adopt.

3. I have a family history of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic health conditions. I need to prevent/slow/reverse what genetics may have in store for me down the road.

4. I need to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. We all get in a rut, with routines, foods, exercise, etc.

I hope this blog will guide and motivate those who are also embarking on New Years Resolutions.  I’ll be posting my experience, along with resource and tools several times a week from now until the end of February 2013.

Will you join me?

So, here they are. A glimpse of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2013.

1. Move more. I’ve been active my whole life. In elementary and junior high school I danced and played basketball, in high school I played tennis, in college I started going to the gym. Somewhere between working and raising a family, a consistent exercise routine fell to the wayside.

2. Less mindless snacking. I love snacks! Overall, what I’m eating is not all that bad, it’s more that I find that at times I’m eating when I’m not really hungry.

To increase my chances of success, I figure I’ll need the following:

1. Small attainable goals
2. Support
3. Resources/tools

What are your healthy resolutions for 2013?