New year the perfect time to get active

SOUTH WAIKATO DISTRICT COORDINATOR Turn your new year’s resolution into a new year’s evolution.

Most of us set New Year’s resolutions that we just don’t follow up on because it’s too hard or because we’ve set an unrealistic goal or because we don’t have a plan as to how we will achieve it.

If you want to improve your own health and wellbeing then all you need to do is start with one simple, measurable goal.

Food goals:

Shop with a list and keep the basic essentials in the cupboard.

Eat breakfast every day. The two best breakfasts are porridge and wheat biscuits. If you don’t eat breakfast you are more likely to eat more later in the day during other meals.

Limit takeaways to once per week at the most and eat them from a plate so you can see exactly how much you are having.

Limit fizzy drinks, one can will give you 10 tsp of sugar.

Exercise goals

Spend those leftover Christmas gift vouchers on comfortable exercise clothing or sports shoes. (Dress for success).

Buy yourself a pedometer and measure how many steps you take in an average day and try and increase them.

Play games with your whanau, cricket, touch, tag, etc.

Keep an exercise diary so you can plan when and what you do. Remember:

If you are new to exercise, no matter how slow you go you will still be lapping everybody on the couch.

If you need support call into the Sport Waikato office today and ask about the Green Prescription. This is a free programme through which we’ll support you in achieving better health through healthy nutrition and exercise.