Ah, New Year’s Resolutions. They’ve been a topic of heavy debate over the past couple of weeks, and while I’m always up for good-hearted discussions, the bottom line for me is that goals are good (some more valuable than others) but a random date of January 1st may or may not motivate people.
I’m excited to be working with Activia to bring you some information on keeping your healthy resolutions. Next week I’ll be sharing some tips from one of my favourite TV personalities, Melissa Grelo from THE SOCIAL. Today, cookbook author and professional home economist Mairlyn Smith (you may recognize her as a Cityline guest expert) weighs in with her advice.
Turn healthy
intentions into long-term success
intentions into long-term success
When it comes to New
Year’s resolutions, Canadians are a classic case of good intentions gone awry.
Year’s resolutions, Canadians are a classic case of good intentions gone awry.
According to a recent
survey by Leger and Activia,
three-quarters of Canadian women typically make resolutions related to their
health, including doing more physical activity (88 per cent) and eating a
healthier diet (87 per cent).
survey by Leger and Activia,
three-quarters of Canadian women typically make resolutions related to their
health, including doing more physical activity (88 per cent) and eating a
healthier diet (87 per cent).
The bad news? 73% of
women who make resolutions will keep them for less than a year, abandoning for
reasons including a lack of motivation and lifestyle fit.
women who make resolutions will keep them for less than a year, abandoning for
reasons including a lack of motivation and lifestyle fit.
The good news? For
every challenge, there is a solution, and mid-January is the perfect time to
get on track. According to cookbook author and professional home economist
Mairlyn Smith, the secret to keeping resolutions starts with taking small steps
towards success.
every challenge, there is a solution, and mid-January is the perfect time to
get on track. According to cookbook author and professional home economist
Mairlyn Smith, the secret to keeping resolutions starts with taking small steps
towards success.
“Any resolution needs
to be realistic and achievable, which means that it needs to fit into your
lifestyle,” says Smith. “Think of a resolution as a personal goal, and remember
that healthy changes aren’t about deprivation. In order to succeed at any goal
in the long term, you need to truly enjoy the process and appreciate the impact
it has on your wellbeing.”
to be realistic and achievable, which means that it needs to fit into your
lifestyle,” says Smith. “Think of a resolution as a personal goal, and remember
that healthy changes aren’t about deprivation. In order to succeed at any goal
in the long term, you need to truly enjoy the process and appreciate the impact
it has on your wellbeing.”
Smith suggests the
following solutions to overcome the most common barriers to maintaining
resolutions:
following solutions to overcome the most common barriers to maintaining
resolutions:
The barrier: More than half (54 per cent) of women say
they lack the motivation necessary.
they lack the motivation necessary.
The solution: Set measurable goals. For example,
instead of simply planning to become more physically active, aim to walk 30 to
45 minutes three times a week. Another option for fitness first-timers is to
set a goal to walk a minimum number of steps each day.
instead of simply planning to become more physically active, aim to walk 30 to
45 minutes three times a week. Another option for fitness first-timers is to
set a goal to walk a minimum number of steps each day.
The barrier: Three in 10 (31 per cent) women set goals
that are too ambitious.
that are too ambitious.
The solution: Make smaller changes – especially when it
comes to introducing new physical activity or dietary habits. This includes
gradually introducing healthy food into a daily routine. For example, Smith
suggests an activity like the Activia Challenge, taking place from January 11
to 21, which encourages participants to increase their daily intake of
probiotics by simply eating yogurt twice a day for two weeks.
comes to introducing new physical activity or dietary habits. This includes
gradually introducing healthy food into a daily routine. For example, Smith
suggests an activity like the Activia Challenge, taking place from January 11
to 21, which encourages participants to increase their daily intake of
probiotics by simply eating yogurt twice a day for two weeks.
“Stick to these
smaller goals for a whole month, and by the end, those behaviours will have
become new habits,” says Smith.
smaller goals for a whole month, and by the end, those behaviours will have
become new habits,” says Smith.
For more
information visit Activia.ca/Challenge
information visit Activia.ca/Challenge
Stay tuned next week when Melissa Grelo shares her healthy tips for 2016!
Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Activia. Opinions are, as always, my own.
