UPDATED FOR 2025
Well, it’s been 7 years since 2018 when this blog post was first published. I considered deleting the whole thing but then I read it again and realised that it has some helpful nuggets of wisdom in there. So, I decided to revisit it and the ideas behind those goals and resolutions we all have at the start of the year.
I’d been thinking about how a whole year can go by before we think about looking back and reviewing it all. Reviewing everything we did and didn’t do throughout the year can be exciting but also can be a bit of a shock if we haven’t done this throughout the year. Which makes me think, maybe we should do it more often, every week or every 6 months. Funny or not, it’s a good excuse to think about why you didn’t quite achieve your goals.
Let’s look at 3 realistic and achievable goals for your health in 2025 (interestingly these 3 goals were just as relevant in 2017/18 as they are in 2025). I chose 3 because it’s a good number. It’s not too many goals that you get overwhelmed trying to achieve and it’s just enough so you don’t get bored.
QUIT SUGAR
It sounds hard but trust me, it’s not. When I say quit sugar I don’t mean entirely and forever. The initial stage to success is to reduce your sugar intake and learn about what’s in your food. I had no idea how much sugar was in a lot of the ‘healthy’ food I was consuming. Fructose is the bad stuff. The only organ that can process fructose is the Liver. If not processed and burnt as energy it turns directly into fat. It’s highly addictive and always has you wanting more. You can see more about recent scientific studies re sugar and it’s harm on the body here.
Just check it out. I think you’ll be surprised at how much sugar we consume. When you consider that it was once thought of as being as valuable as gold, it’s pretty amazing that it’s so ubiquitous and in almost everything we eat.
When you remove sugar from your diet you will be surprised. Surprised about how delicious ‘normal’ foods taste. Vegetables are sweet, they really are ! The idea of quitting sugar is to reset your body by eliminating it and allowing yourself to then indicate how much you need – which you will learn is not a lot at all. I still enjoy fruit, but mostly low fructose fruits like berries. If you need a little guidance Sarah Wilson has a very achievable 8 week program to launch your sugar free life.
START YOGA PRACTICE
Not hard-core yoga but a relaxed and slightly dedicated yoga. Remember, we are focusing on setting achievable goals so don’t go overboard. If you accidentally start to love hard-core yoga – awesome. If you don’t, it doesn’t matter because that’s not what we were aiming for.
Why yoga ? It’s been around a long time, like your grandma, and has exceptional health benefits. It’s an ancient Indian philosophy that dates back thousands of years ago (so it may be a little older than your gran!).
Researchers have discovered that the regular practice of yoga may produce many health benefits, including increased fitness and normalisation of blood pressure – Better Health VIC
Cardiovascular system (heart and arteries) – yoga asanas (positions etc) are isometric, which means they rely on holding muscle tension for a short period of time. This improves cardiovascular fitness and circulation. Studies show that regular yoga practice may help normalise blood pressure.
Digestive system – improved blood circulation and the massaging effect of surrounding muscles speeds up a sluggish digestion.
Musculoskeletal – joints are moved through their full range of motion, which encourages mobility and eases pressure. The gentle stretching releases muscle and joint tension, and stiffness, and also increases flexibility. Maintaining many of the asanas encourages strength and endurance. Weight-bearing asanas may help prevent osteoporosis, and may also help people already diagnosed with osteoporosis (if practiced with care under the supervision of a qualified yoga teacher). Long-term benefits may include reduced back pain and improved posture.
Nervous system – improved blood circulation, easing of muscle tension and the act of focusing the mind on the breath all combine to soothe the nervous system. Long-term benefits include reduced stress, anxiety and fatigue, better concentration and energy levels, and increased feelings of calm and well-being.
BOOK A FITNESS RETREAT
I’ll bet the thought of a fitness retreat or get away has been on your mind ever since the COVID-19 lockdown. So 2025 is the year to do it (if you’ve already done it, find the time to do it again 😉 ). A fitness retreat is perfect for anyone. If you need to kickstart your fitness regime, reboot your old one or take a week to mix fitness and relaxation – it’s for you.
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