The New Year is a time of year when people are filled with a new sense of energy and motivation to achieve their goals. One of the most common New Year’s goals is to be healthier. Being healthier means something a little different for everybody depending on where your health stands currently, but there are a few tips and tricks that are helpful no matter who you are! 

Setting Realistic Goals

Before you can work towards a healthier you, you need to know exactly what that means. Do you want to lose weight? Lower your blood pressure? Run a quicker mile? Regardless of what you want to do, you’ve got to set realistic goals.

Many patients make the mistake of setting goals that aren’t realistic and then they get discouraged if they aren’t able to achieve them. Set short-term goals and long-term goals but keep them both realistic.

Instead of setting a specific amount of weight you want to lose, create a goal to eat smaller portion sizes and drink more water. These goals are easily achieved and as an added bonus, you’ll more than likely lose some weight along the way! 

Health and Weight Loss Tips 

Keep these tips in mind as you work towards your goals: 

• Make exercise fun – if you want to lose weight or be more active, it shouldn’t be something your dread! Exercise doesn’t always mean going to the gym. Try out a group fitness class, dancing, swimming, and so much more!
• Don’t focus on restricting your diet – instead of a strict list of what you can’t eat, make a list of things that you want to eat more of. This should include whole fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and protein rich foods. As these foods increase in your diet, the unhealthy foods should naturally decrease. 
• Drink more water – water is essential to weightless and to health as a whole. Kickoff the new year by purchasing a reusable water bottle you love and carry it everywhere with you! Refill every time it empties and you’ll be shocked how much water you were lacking in your old routine. 

As you work to improve your health, remember to seek treatment quickly when you’re suffering from an injury or illness. Visit your local urgent care center to get diagnosed and treated so you can continue working towards the healthiest version of yourself!