Make Your New Year’s Resolution Happen

The start of 2019 offers a fresh opportunity to improve your life. When you look at some of the lists of the most common New Year’s resolutions, there are a few commonalities that always come up.  Among them are:  health, happiness, family, friends, and longevity. However, actually keeping your New Year’s resolutions can be a major challenge. Most people make the same resolutions, year after year, but end up falling behind by February.  So today we are going to discuss how you can make your New Year’s Resolution happen!

Getting In Shape or Staying In Shape

Most people who make a New Year’s resolution to get or stay in shape start by buying a gym membership — and then eventually stop using it within the first two months. No matter what type of exercise you choose, it can be difficult to get in the groove and stay motivated to continue. Whether it’s soreness, injury, fatigue, or a busy schedule, there is always something that can potentially get you off track. Here are a few tips that can help you if your New Year’s resolution is to get or stay in shape:

• Start small. In the first few days of January, your enthusiasm to get in shape is probably pretty high. As you walk around the gym, proudly bearing your new membership card, you might be tempted to try out lots of exciting machines or spend extra time on the treadmill as you admire your shiny new shoes. However, if you overdo it in the first few days, your body will rebel, and you’ll probably wake up sore and unmotivated to get out of bed, much less work out.  Make sure you ease into your exercise routine and build up over time, especially if you didn’t work out much this past year. .

• Use nutrition to recover. One of the most common complaints of people who are returning to regular exercise is fatigue. In order to ward off fatigue, try to eat a snack within the first 15 to 30 minutes after you exercise. You may also want to try a functional food supplement, which can provide muscle-building protein, reduce exercise-induced inflammation, and improve the nutrient absorption capacity of your gut. Powder-based functional foods are also ideal post-workout snacks, because they may be easier on your stomach than a full meal.

• Manage pain effectively. After your first few workouts, you might be tempted to alleviate the muscle soreness and swollen joints by popping over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. However, these can wreak havoc on your GI tract and pose other long-term health risks. If you’re looking for a more natural way to ease the pain, you might want to consider a dietary supplement that includes anti-inflammatory compounds like curcumin and/or omega-3 fatty acids. Massage therapy and chiropractic can also help reduce inflammation, tension, and stiffness so that you will be ready to take on your next workout. Similarly, a chiropractic adjustment can help reduce back and neck pain from misalignments that are commonly arise when you are working out.

• Address injury risks. It is also important to do what you can to prevent injury. A regular chiropractic adjustment can also prevent injury by keeping your body in proper alignment, because misalignment can over-stress certain muscles and joints, putting you at greater risk of injury.

• Recognizing and treating injury. It is important to recognize the difference between muscle soreness and serious injury. Once you get injured, it can be a lot harder to keep your New Year’s Resolution to stay in shape, because your options for exercise may be restricted. In the face of serious pain, it’s better to back off for a few days than to push through. If you do find yourself injured, give us a call or Schedule an Appointment as we may be able to help speed up the recovery process!

Getting and staying in shape is a big new year’s resolution, but Discover Health and Wellness Ken Caryl is here to help you succeed! We offer chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy options, and nutritional supplements that can support your health in the new year. Contact us today regarding our New Patient Special to see how we can help you make your new year’s resolution happen!