How to keep that healthy New Year’s resolution

It’s a new year! Odds are you’ve made a resolution to lead a healthier lifestyle. Good for you! Here are some tips to stick to that promise for the next 12 months.

1) Set realistic goals. Instead of vowing to lose 30 pounds before next New Year’s Eve, focus on losing 10 percent of your body weight by year’s end. That’ll ensure you lose the weight slowly, which means you’re more likely to keep it off.

2) Incorporate change slowly. Quitting cold turkey is hard whether it’s giving up smoking or cutting out junk food. Don’t swear off all of your unhealthy habits all at once , instead phase them out gradually. If you make changes one at a time and are happy with the results those new choice yield, you’re more likely to make more improvements and stick with your new (and healthier) lifestyle.

3) Moderation is Key Too much of anything, even healthy stuff, isn’t a good thing. Restrict your diet too much and your more likely to slip back to your old ways. Spend too much time at the gym and you risk side-lining yourself with an injury. As for the unhealthy stuff…indulging every once in a while isn’t going to wreck your plans, just don’t make a habit out of it.

4) Get moving! The biggest and best thing you can do for yourself is to get more exercise. And I’m not just talking about hitting the gym every day. It’s recommended to get between 30 and 60 minutes of aerobic exercise a day and that could be anything…walking the dog, running, biking, yoga, etc. The point is to move and get your heart rate up. Do that 7 times a week and not only will you be healthier, but you’ll also be happier — exercise causes your brain to release endorphins which in turn boosts your mood.

And to help you along with that last tip…here are this week’s Monday Music Mayhem picks.

Who Dat Girl — Akon

Black and Yellow — Wiz Khalifa

Club Can’t Handle Me — Flo Rida feat. David Guetta

Undo It — Carrie Underwood

Buff Broad