If you have read my post on Starting a Fitness Program, you know that achieving a healthy lifestyle is a work-in-progress for me. This is a new year resolution that I make every single year, and I break every single year. It is almost a ritual.
Now here’s the thing – breaking New Year resolutions is the norm with me; I break most of my resolutions during the course of the year. But this one is particularly ridiculous, as it often doesn’t make it through the first week of the year.
There have been times when I have wondered if I even want to work towards a healthier lifestyle, or just feel that it is a good resolution to make. Do you know what I mean?
This is the first year (in a long time) that I don’t have any specific resolutions in this area of my life; at-least not in terms of specific weight loss goals, or any specific workout routines.
However, I do have one broad goal in mind – This year (2016), I want to work towards developing a Healthy Lifestyle.
Since this is a lifestyle I want to develop, I realize that this will be a slower process, but I am positive that once I do make certain things a part of my life, I will not have to backtrack ever so often and start from square one.
So, small, yet positive changes, once and for all – that is what I hope for.
Quarterly Tracking & Baby Steps
Since I am horrible at sticking to any one resolution for the entire year, and can work better in smaller time-frames – this year, I plan to set quarterly goals, and track them.
I don’t have any particular exercise programs for this quarter, but I might pick out some as the year progresses. As of now – baby steps.
As far as food is concerned, I know for sure that yo-yo dieting doesn’t work for anyone, at-least not in the long term. So in this area, my goal is to make small lifestyle changes, and see if they stick.
Note: These goals are not fancy, and might not look like a lot to many of you, but I don’t want to repeat past mistakes and set huge goals that I have no hope of achieving.
Goals for January – March 2016
Exercise
30 minutes Cardio (Walk/Run) – 4 days a week.
Food
Here I have a ban list, and I am hoping that by the end of the first quarter, I can get rid of the craving for this junk (Yes, I am an optimist like that. 🙂 )
No Chips. (This is my # 1 problem area. Remember the Lays jingle – ‘No one can eat just one’? Yeah, that was possibly coined keeping me in mind. )
No Soda. (Not even the ZERO calorie ones. That is just a dumb excuse.)
No Pizza. (Making an exception for homemade pizza, but since that happens only once in a blue moon, I think I will be fine.)
I would love to hear from you guys. Have you made any New Year resolutions regarding health/fitness this year? Do you have a plan to track them? If something has worked for you in the past, do let me know in the comments, it will help me out.
P.S. I will have a post up on 31st March reviewing how the quarter went, and my plan for the next quarter.
Rajlakshmi
I strongly believe that it’s only the lifestyle changes that can help to lead a healthier life … the fad diets and crash courses are temporary stuffs. Glad you too have similar thoughts 😀 Wish you good luck with your goal. For me it’s Rice – I can’t help it. I just want more rice 😛
Rajlakshmi recently posted…Tai O – Of Stilt houses & Puffer Fish
Shanaya Tales
Yeah, I have tried several crash diets – they do not work in the long term, and are not healthy. Hence the change. Thank you so much for your wishes. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Word of the (Reading) Year and a Bookish Bingo
Eli
Thats a good overall goal sweetie! Why not?! To me a healthy lifestyle includes training of both body and soul… Its all connected I believe… And doing it all baby-step-like makes it more realistic to stick with, it gets like a change of your life style really. Go do it girl, I cheer for you!:-) Best of luck, and a happy new year!!
Eli recently posted…Hello 2016! – New Year’s resolutions anyone?
Shanaya Tales
Thank you so much, Eli. <3 Wishing you a very happy new year too. Have an awesome 2016. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Word of the (Reading) Year and a Bookish Bingo
Shubhangi Srikanth
Ditto for me Shanaya…the walk and the ban list ( for me it’s the sweet stuff, can’t seem to get my hands off them.) Let’s progress in this together. Cheers!
Shanaya Tales
Yeah, I know a lot of people struggle with sweets; my battle is with the salty snacks.
Will keep you updated, and would love to hear from you too. Lets cheer each other on. 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Word of the (Reading) Year and a Bookish Bingo
Meena Menon
Fitness is been on my mind too! Mine n more importanty my life partbers…
Shanaya Tales
Yeah, it has been on my mind for quite some time now, but only now have I worked out an action plan. Wishing you (and your spouse) a healthier/fitter 2016 too. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Word of the (Reading) Year and a Bookish Bingo
Tommy
You have set very realistic goals! 30 minutes of cardio 4 times a week is actually very good. I only do cardio twice a week 😛 But alas, chips are my krytonite! I wonder if those ‘baked not fried’ organic chips are worth the trouble though?
Shanaya Tales
No, I guess not. I have gone the baked route, and I don’t think it helps at all (or tastes as good, for that matter).
Thank you for stopping by. Glad to have you here. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Word of the (Reading) Year and a Bookish Bingo
Somali K Chakrabarti
30 -40 min of cardio, walk, run 4 days a week is actually a vey healthy habit. I too intend to follow this. No chips, no soda, no pizzza sounds a little tough….doable though for a month. 🙂 All the best with your resolutions Shantala.
Somali K Chakrabarti recently posted…How these brands got their names
Shanaya Tales
I know the ban is tough, but doable. Especially considering that I haven’t banned all fried foods (which I think I must, eventually), for a while anyway, and then eat in moderation (if that is even possible for me). 🙂
Thank you so much for your wishes. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Shalini
I am a no-diet no-exercise girl. I just can’t stick to either of them. I either starve one whole day and gorge on anything and everything the next. All the best with your regime. Waiting to know how this turns out for you. 🙂
Shalini recently posted…Is a Meager ‘RIP’ enough? #MondayMusings
Shanaya Tales
Oh yes, I have been-there-done-that! Taking baby steps towards a different lifestyle now. Hoping that it will work. Fingers crossed. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Shilpa Garg
Sticking to any fitness regime is something I just cant manage. But it is something that I cant ignore any longer. So baby steps sounds great. Here’s hoping that I am able to stay focused on this front!
Shanaya Tales
Yeah, let’s hope 2016 is the year of change. Good luck to you. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Suzy
Baby steps is the way to go but your goals look like giant leaps for me, Anyway good luck and hope you achieve your goals.
Shanaya Tales
No, not really. These are baby steps (for me). Cutting out all fried foods would be a huge leap, I guess. That is something that I am not quite ready for, right now.
Thank you so much for your wishes. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
John
Best of luck to you in your goals! I know that it may be hard at first, but all it takes is a little determination and after a while it will be regular for you. Thanks for the read!
John recently posted…Build Mass Gain Muscle
Shanaya Tales
True that. Thank you so much. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life
Baby steps is the way to go. Also with the goals, outlining how you will stick to them helps. I have health and fitness goals too. I want to lose weight and I plan to exercise at least 5 times a week. My eating is a bigger problem and for me, it’s my sweet tooth. I’m aiming to cut refined sugars from my diet — no chocolate, no cakes, no biscuits. I’m aiming to plan my weekly meals so I avoid eating crap. Good luck with your goals!
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Shanaya Tales
Yeah, it’s the same with me. Food is more of a problem area for me, but in these cold winter days, going to the gym takes a great deal of motivation too.
Also, go for the weekly meal plans – they sure do work. I have tried them, and not only do they help in eating better, they are also a great time/money saver. Win-win. 😀
Good luck with your goals. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Inderpreet Kaur
I love your fitness goals. They are so doable. I will follow them or try to. Fitness goals get me no where.
But all the best.
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Shanaya Tales
Yeah, it has been the same with me. I am hoping that it changes in 2016. I am certainly working towards it. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Rachna
Sounds good to me, Shantala. Breaking it into smaller goals is easier. I have been reasonably regular with my exercise. I hope to continue the same in 2016. I have just started maintaining a daily journal on Exercise in Evernote.
Shanaya Tales
Oh, I never considered doing that on Evernote. Will certainly look it up now. Thanks for sharing that. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Obsessivemom
I like this idea Shantala. Baby steos sound good. I’ll do it too. Other than one hour of exercise I plan to have monthly diet goals. Fingers crossed now and following your journey. Will watch out on FB.
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Shanaya Tales
Haan, monthly diet goals are so doable; goals for the whole year intimidate me. Here’s hoping that we achieve our goals, and have a much healthier 2016. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Bilna
I know I I have had that habit too…breaking my resolutions especially those healthy living ones..but this time I stick to no resolutions.. but trying to mend my mind to follow a healthy lifestyle even if I break once in a while..to get back on track without any regrets ? all the best to your healthy 2016 ?☺
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Shanaya Tales
Thank you so much, Bilna. And yes, that is the more sensible way to go about resolutions. We need to accept that we will fall, and every time we do – we should just get right back up, and keep moving forward. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Pixie
I completely understand your points.
I am going to continue to aim for better fitness and wellness in 2016 too.
My fitness goals for 2015 were small steps – similar to yours – with regular exercise, less eating out, no pizza, no soda or chips and things like that.
It has really helped! I have similar goals for 2016 and I know with easy steps it will be manageable! 🙂
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Shanaya Tales
Yay! Here’s to conquering the mountain of healthy living – one step at a time. 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Seeya
Happy New Year. If you have been reading my blog posts, you will see that instead of making resolutions for entire year, break them in smaller bits. That way you can track them and achieve one after other. Read my post Divide and Conquer that I wrote few days back.
Shanaya Tales
Yep. That is true. Breaking them up into smaller goals, keeps me motivated and helps me stay on track. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Shailaja
I am really keen to see how this goes, Shantala.I did a 90 day no sweets diet in 2014 and it was fabulous! Hoping to do it again this year. Will look forward to your updates 🙂
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Shanaya Tales
Wow! I am sure that must have felt great. 🙂
However, with me, sweets are not a problem. I can live without them. The craving for salty, sodium-rich junk needs management. 😛
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Nikita Jhanglani
I pretty much understand what you say there, for mine is the same story! I have also decided on picking up monthly goals, because giving up something for a whole year is so horrendous sounding, that I just want to go and eat that thing! So, good luck to us! 🙂
Shanaya Tales
Right, and a year seems so long, that I lose all motivation. So, baby steps as of now.
Good luck to you too. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps
Nidhi
Please dont make a resolution NOT to visit my blog as 90% of the recipes cant be categorized under ‘healthy’. Please……..pretty please….
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Shanaya Tales
Hahaha..no I am not going to make any such resolutions. I love your blog. If you look at my list of banned items -no homemade food (however calorie rich) is banned; not even Pizza. 😛
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Fitness Goals for 2016 – Quarterly Tracking and Baby Steps