Fitness and weight loss is amongst the most popular New Year’s Resolutions. Every gym parking lot across the nation will be packed in the following months. Gym memberships will spike, new timid faces with wide eyes will emerge, everyone is pumped up to lose weight, and begin their journey to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

This interesting phenomenon will  slowing start to dwindle down in March.  Statistics show that this New Year’s gym enthusiasm does not last. In fact, most people do not stick with resolutions beyond a few weeks.

Here are 6 tips to keep you on track to accomplish weight loss and fitness results in 2010:

1.  Sit down with a qualified personal trainer to discus medical history, fitness goals, postural analysis, body composition, exercise testing, exercise prescription, and nutrition. Most gyms offer a free fitness assessment. Take advantage of this service and do not blindly try to create your own workout regimen.

2.  Project clear, thought out, short term and long term goals. Track progress and create a  schedule. You will see results if you are putting in the time with a proper workout program.

3.  Make sure to reward yourself when you hit goals in your new found healthy lifestyle. This does not mean loafing on the couch with a carton of Ben and Jerry’s.  Choose healthy, positive rewards, such as, a massage, a soak in the hot tub, a new I-Pod, new running shoes, or new workout clothes.

4.  Keep a food Journal and choose the good stuff. A food journal is a powerful way to hold yourself accountable. Write down what you ate, the portion, time of day, and how you felt. This will help you understand your eating habits. People often eat out of emotion and stress. Work it out and uncover these triggers.

5. Have fun and enjoy your new found healthy lifestyle. A training partner is another great way to make your time in the gym social and fun. Try switching up your workout in the gym with outdoor recreational activities.

6. Be positive. Negative thoughts create stress and zap your energy. Believe in yourself, repeat positive affirmations, enjoy the excitement and opportunities of the future. Positive thoughts will be empowering, give you energy, motivation, and help keep you focused!

Trendy, fad diets such as the Southbeach and Atkins have left the vast majority of the population completely confused on the amount and type of carbohydrates to consume each day. Despite what these diets have taught the population about cutting carbs, carbohydrates are a very important part of energy production and a healthy diet.

There is no doubt that “Bad Carbs” are contributing to chronic disease in the United States and around the world including:

• The obesity epidemic
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Cancers
• Ultimately mortality

Alleviating “Bad Carbs” from your diet and choosing “Good Carbs” is the key to weight loss and feeling your best. Understanding how to make these choices at the grocery store is crucial.

“The Good”

• Unprocessed carbohydrates in their natural state
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Legumes and beans
• Whole grain breads, cereals, and pastas
• Brown Rice
• Metabolized slowly and increase your glycogen stores
• Substained, natural energy
• High in fiber
• Nutrient dense
  

“The Bad”
“The Ugly”

• Refined, processed, altered, bleached, enriched carbohydrates
• White flour products
• White sugar products
• White breads
• Sugary cereals
• Sodas
• Candies
• Spike blood sugar levels
• Rapidly absorbed stimulating insulin release and fat synthesis
• Low nutrient density
• Lead to obesity and chronic diseases
  

An organic diet may promote weight loss because you are not ingesting unnatural ingredients and chemicals that sabotage your hunger levels and slow your metabolism.

In 1960 obesity was not an epidemic in the United States. In addition, foods did not contain:

• Growth hormones
• MSG
• High fructose corn syrup
• Olestra
• Aspartame
• Saccharine
• Splenda
• etc.

An update in 2008 reported 32.1% of adults in the United States ages 20-74 were obese and 97.1 million American adults are overweight. Contributing factors range from imbalances in caloric intake, energy expenditure and sedentary lifestyles.

But new research is showing how synthetic chemicals may be the underlining issue to the obesity epidemic. The stored chemicals disrupt our body’s natural abilities to send signals when you are full or hungry, causing over eating and weight gain.

The Solution May Start with Eating “Real Food” Free of Carcinogens.

On an organic diet your body is able to filter out built up toxins and free radicals that cause damage at the cellular level. Thus, keeping our bodily functions healthy and efficient.

You will look and feel your best by choosing organic foods with no:

• Synthetic pesticides
• Synthetic herbicides
• Growth hormones
• Preservatives or additives
• Genetically engineered seeds
• or any other ingredients from Mars.

In addition, organic foods have a dramatically higher concentration of nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins.

This is because of:

• Improved ecology
• Farm biodiversity
• No irradiation
• Enriched drought resistant soil
• Less soil erosion
• and less groundwater pollution.

Give your body what it deserves and your body will thank you.
Remember to go for food that is minimally processed with 10 or less ingredients and close to its natural state.

Cheers to feeling good!