Happy New Year! With each celebration of the New Year comes a renewed sense of purpose and excitement about what lies in store for us in the coming year, as well as hope for the future. We leave our mistakes behind for the most part, sort of like watching them fade away in the rearview mirror, and we look forward and charge ahead into new territory. One of the best ways most of us do this is by evaluating how we can improve ourselves in the coming year, and we list our conclusions as our New Year’s resolutions. While you may have decided on your resolutions by now, we have a few good ones that you can add to your list…if you haven’t already!
One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is always leading a healthier lifestyle. Whether you are simply trying to eat better or get more exercise, or you have more specific goals that address health-related issues, there are plenty of ways to go about achieving your goals as well as many local businesses that specialize and are truly invested in helping you along the way.
“Everyone wants to lose weight around this time of year, so that’s a given. However, if you make the right types of targeted exercise and increased physical activity a regular part of your routine you will also see benefits such as less stress, more energy, less sick days, more motivation and improved mood” says Lonny Liss of 8020 SmartFit. “Even these are generally no-brainers, but there are even more benefits that aren’t the most prominent in our minds including less aches and pains, increased coordination, and all of a sudden those everyday activities are simply easier. Basically by including more exercise as a part of your New Year’s resolutions for 2014, you will experience an overall improvement in your quality of life.” Liss also offered some tips on how to incorporate your goals into your day to day life in order to make it a permanent behavior. “The most important thing to realize is that these changes are not easy and there’s so much conflicting information out there that it can sometimes be overwhelming. We eliminate all of the guesswork by educating our clients about lifestyle changes. We break down nutrition, perform monthly body composition evaluations to track progress, and of course we provide our custom and individualized exercise program. We effectively give you the tools and the roadmap to success.” He adds, “Another important thing to realize is that these changes take time, and creating new habits is the key to success. I always relate this idea to the quote by Thomas Jefferson, ‘if you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.’” Instead of crash dieting and going nuts at the gym six days a week for a couple of months, you need to participate in a sustainable functional exercise program and employ realistic nutrition where you are consuming non-processed foods. The tortoise always beats the hare when it comes to LONG term weight loss.”
Whether your goal is to lose weight, eat better, improve fitness, reduce stress, or simply to lead a healthier lifestyle; having an optimally functioning nervous system will facilitate all of the above. The nervous system controls every muscle, organ, sensation, and cell in the body, which is why it is important to have it checked. Correcting nerve interference with the chiropractic adjustment will improve the performance of your mind and body in order to help you meet your goals with more ease and less pain. When considering what goal you will set for yourself and planning how to achieve it, Dr. Austin Weaver of CoreCare Chiropractic advises, “In my experience, when setting a goal you should make them attainable but not too easy. Know your limits and be patient early on. Many people are very eager when starting their goal only to experience setbacks like muscle soreness, injury, or burnout. A well planned and executed goal is more likely to be met and sustained afterwards, so take time and make a plan. Also, share your goal with others and even do it with others to keep you accountable. There are always tough days and those are the important ones to overcome to reach your final goal. If it’s a weight loss goal, we have a weight loss coach who meets with our clients weekly to keep them accountable and more importantly motivated!” Dr. Weaver adds, “Your nervous system should be functioning at its best to allow your body to take full advantage of your resolution and prevent any possible setbacks. Posture is the window into your spine and nervous system health, so a proper posture check by a chiropractor can reveal possible setbacks and provide ways to improve posture and performance. My role is to make it easier for you to reach your goal, and I highly recommend implementing chiropractic as a part of achieving your New Year’s resolutions this year.” Visit Dr. Austin Weaver at CoreCare Chiropractic and let him help you reach your New Year’s resolution goals and clear any hurdles that may be in the way. Consultations are always complimentary and questions are welcome, so get your posture checked today and meet your goals tomorrow. Chiropractic has helped Michael Jordan, Aaron Rodgers, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps and hundreds of other professionals reach their goals successfully, so why wouldn’t you? You can reach Dr. Weaver by phone at (402) 937-9963 or by e-mail at aweaverdc@gmail.com.
Additionally, if your goal is to better manage your health or something that is directly affecting your wellbeing, there is an array of alternative techniques and resources available to address the problem and find a solution that is best for you. Massager Relief Specialists is owned by Pain Relief Consultant Deborah Conevera, who practices a drug-free alternative for pain management by utilizing a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit in conjunction with massage techniques to help relieve pain, chronic pain, diabetes complications, foot pain, shoulder pain, and many more specific ailments. Conevara says, “It is very important to educate yourself on what is directly affecting your health in a negative way, and then formulate a plan of action moving forward. Personally, my goal every year to get healthier and finding a cure for my diabetes. I don’t like the pills from the doctor or the shots of insulin, so I look for alternatives to help me. I want to lead a Drug Free life and at times I know that is not possible. But I am in business to provide my services and the expertise I have gained in my journey to others like myself who are seeking out treatment options that will work best for them. Additionally, my services are very affordable and are easy to schedule on a trial basis until you have decided whether you are benefitting from them or not. One of the best parts of New Year’s resolutions is that you can acknowledge the challenges you face and actively work towards overcoming them. If you believe in yourself and have faith, you will likely find many of the answers you are seeking that will enable you to reach the goals you have set for yourself.”
Achieving the goal of leading a healthier lifestyle requires direct approach that takes many aspects into account. Healthy Home Fitness offers a comprehensive way to stay on track and meet your personal health and fitness goals. Owner Kristin Hain explains, “We provide a personal online coach for one on one encouragement, goal setting, to maintain accountability and to help with any exercise modifications needed. In addition, we have a private online accountability group where participants can connect with others for added support and motivation. Our fitness programs come complete with meal plans to teach you what, when and how to eat and we listen to your personal needs to help find the best fitness program to meet your current goals. Nutritional supplements are also available to enhance your results or provide a quick meal when you’re on the run and don’t have time to eat a healthy meal. Once someone has committed to doing one of our fitness programs, the private online accountability group and personal coach are completely free–there are no memberships or personal training fees. When a client has a fitness goal but is unsure of what they need to do to achieve it, I always ask three questions.
1. What do you ENJOY doing when you work out…cardio, dance, weight lifting, yoga, etc.? This is so important because if someone starts a workout program that they don’t LIKE doing, they’ll get frustrated, bored or just quit too early.
2. How much TIME will you commit to your workout each day? For some this might only be 15-30 minutes, for others it might be 45 minutes to an hour. Everyone has busy schedules and we understand that and want to work within the time frame that’s realistic to each individual. We’ve got program options that require as little time as 10 minutes a day!
3. What are your GOALS? Do they want to lose 5-10 pounds, 50-100 pounds, tone, or gain mass and size? It is important to be realistic with your goals, meaning if you need to lose 100 pounds, that’s completely doable but don’t expect it to happen by next month. Remember, it takes time to get to where you are now and it will take time and commitment to get to where you want to be. We don’t offer magic pills or overnight weight loss, we offer a comprehensive approach to help people lose weight safely and long-term. It’s about creating a new lifestyle and we walk along side you at all times to ensure you get there!
Leading a healthier lifestyle is a very worthy goal–just look at the new headlines and it’s easy to figure out the benefits. Our nation is more obese than it’s ever been, healthcare costs are rising, people are being diagnosed with more diseases than ever and much of that is preventable with healthy living. So the goal shouldn’t be that you want to fit into that dress for a dinner party next month, the goal needs to encompass more. Think about your family history. How long did your parents live or how old are they now and do they have health problems? How about your kids, do you get tired when you play with them or do you have to turn down opportunities to be active with friends and family because of your current state of health? We want families and friends to have more quality time together and live longer lives with less health problems, that is OUR goal and it should be yours too. So rather than saying ‘I want to fit into those pants’ and beating yourself up when you don’t, change that goal to ‘I want to be able to play baseball with my grandson’ or ‘I want to avoid getting diabetes like my mother.’ I guarantee if that’s your mindset going into a new fitness and nutrition routine, the byproduct will be that you WILL fit into those pants or that sexy dress!” Hain adds, “I invite anyone interested to contact me through my website at www.HealthyHomeFitness.com for a free consultation to see if our products and services are a good fit. My mission is to help people achieve their dreams and live healthy, fulfilling lives in whatever way works for them. It’s time to believe in yourself and start making the changes in your life that will impact not only you but generations to come!”
What almost all New Year’s resolutions have in common is they give us the opportunity to start or try something new. Diane Hesson, owner of Play it Again Sports, adds, “This time of year we all think about what we can do better or what might make us better people, so it’s a perfect time to reflect on and plan for what actions or habits can make that happen. If your goals include improving your fitness, getting involved in group sports, or trying out a new sport or activity; Play it Again Sports offers a full line of equipment with a selection of both new and used merchandise. This includes small portable items all the way up to larger cardio and strength machines. In addition to helping you find what will assist you in achieving your goals with our large selection and helpful staff, we bring a lot of value to the table with our new and used pricing.” She adds, “The tricky thing about New Year’s resolutions is that setting your goals is the easy part, and following through with them is the challenge. We all have good intentions and want to accomplish our goals, but there can be plenty of distractions and setbacks along the way. In my experience, the best thing to do is to set smaller, more attainable goals. If you set your goals too high to begin with, and it takes you a longer amount of time to accomplish them, you may become discouraged. Tier your goals, and set time frames for each of the smaller steps so that you still have a target to work towards. With a series of smaller goals, you will be able to celebrate each of the smaller milestones and build momentum that will lead you to success with your larger goals.”
Nutrition plays a very important part in all health-related goals as it is the foundation for how our body functions—good or bad. Juice Plus+ is dedicated to providing the healthful benefits of better whole food nutrition to as many people as possible. Juice Plus+ fruit and vegetable supplements provide “whole food” concentrated nutrition from 25 different fruits, vegetables, berries, and grains that help bridge the gap between what you should eat and what you do eat every day. Not a multivitamin or medicine, Juice Plus+ is all-natural and made from quality ingredients carefully monitored from farm to capsule, or chewable form for children, so you can enjoy improved nutrition and wellness. Juice Plus+ representative Lynn Bartak says that one of the great things about Juice Plus+ besides improving your health is that each adult customer can sponsor a child. For anyone with children, it is likely that your goals either include or affect your children, so this program provides the perfect solution for those whose goals are family-oriented. Juice Plus+ customers with children (age 4 and older) have the opportunity to participate in the Children’s Health Study, which includes FREE product for one child for up to 3 years. Bartak adds, “Juice Plus+ combines the latest dietary guidelines and clinical research findings to create convenient whole food based nutrition, while consistently emphasizing that people need to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve their chances of living long and healthy lives. The best time to start implementing a healthier diet is not necessarily around the New Year, it is right now…whenever that may be.”
In addition to their supplements, Juice Plus+ also offers their signature Tower Garden®. If your goal is a more balanced diet or to eat healthier foods, this is a great way to grow your own fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Tower Garden® is a state-of-the-art vertical aeroponic growing system. You can grow almost anything with the Tower Garden®, including tomatoes, lettuce, basil, peppers, spinach, beans, cucumbers, melons, and herbs. It is perfect for rooftops, patios, balconies, terraces—just about any relatively sunny place outside. Aeroponic technology uses both water and air to produce more colorful, better tasting, better smelling, and incredibly nutritious fruits and vegetables. Because of its unique technology and design, Tower Garden® uses less than 10% of the water and land required by traditional, soil-based agriculture. It will not only save you space and mess, it will save you money and time! The Tower Garden® fits in perfectly with Juice Plus’ mission to promote healthy nutrition. Like taking Juice Plus+, growing your own fresh produce is a great way to help you and your family bridge the gap between what you should eat and what you actually eat every day.
However, your goal may be far different than your health. Maybe you already have that figured out and you are moving onwards and upwards to tackle other areas of your life that need some improvement. That is the best thing about New Year’s resolutions—they can be anything! Another excellent resolution shared by many is the goal to become a homeowner. In fact, home ownership can be incredibly rewarding for many reasons, including the ability to have an asset that is now tied to a liability. This might actually sound like a bad thing, but you can be assured it isn’t. Many times renting can feel like a waste of money when you don’t eventually own something or have anything to show for it. Not only that, but you can invest in improving it to make it your own in more than just legal terms. Stephanie Boyes, Senior Mortgage Loan Consultant or as she is better known, the ‘Mortgage Genie’, advises, “If buying a home is even a goal within one to three years, it is always best to start out by gaining as much information and understanding about the process as possible. Many people have a tendency to ‘do it themselves’ and finding a home as well as financing a home will be far less daunting if you consult with professionals in the industry. I always offer a consultative approach to mortgage lending. Many of my clients meet with me well in advance of actually being ready to search for a home in order to understand what is typically involved with mortgage lending. It is not always as simple as finding a home; it matters what financing options you may have as well.” When asked what major steps toward attaining this goal are crucial to be aware of, she adds, “Meeting with a mortgage consultant and having them review your current financial situation as it directly relates to a mortgage loan is a must. Many people feel their situation is actually worse than it is, or they may be advised by someone outside of the mortgage industry on something that may or may not actually improve their situation. If your New Year’s resolution is to become a homeowner, it is best to start that journey by consulting with a mortgage lender and seeing what your budget will be or what type of loan you qualify for. It is also very wise to educate yourself on what will happen at each step of the process ahead.”
Many people will also resolve to update the interior space of their home, office or business in the coming year. There are many benefits to rejuvenating a space with a new look, especially if you spend a majority of your time there. TJ King of TJ King Interiors & Design says, “When redesigning and/or redecorating any space, I always recommend that you try to step out of your box a little bit. Don’t do something that you do year after year…if you are going to improve something, fully commit to that change and go for it! As we all know, change can be very hard sometimes. Remember it took seven days to build the world–you don’t have to do everything all at once. The key is to have a good design plan. Whether time and money are issues or you just don’t quite know what you want yet, as long as you have a solid long term plan and a professional to guide and advise you throughout the process you will find success in your endeavors.” King adds, “I encourage my clients to be realistic. Don’t be afraid to set time aside to clearly define your vision, plans, and goals for the project. Most importantly, don’t get discouraged and don’t be afraid to ask for help! With a new year, a new space is like a new birth. With a new environment and surroundings, you will experience a fresh start and benefit from a fresh outlook.”
Your New Year’s reso
lutions may even include better protecting the assets you already own. If you are interested in finding the best coverage, it is necessary to consult with a professional who knows exactly what is available and can tailor a plan specifically based upon your unique needs and requirements. David Duff of Farm Bureau Financial Services also advises that setting yourself up for success and gains really starts with understanding what you have and where you are now. “Success in attaining goals, whether it is growing capital for future funding or making sure what you have now is protected, requires understanding risks and the steps to complete the goal. I always tell my clients to take an extra second to think situations through. Knowing what is important and what is not, and the differences between needs and wants, is huge. Steps as simple as morning coffee are actions that can make life differences—driving to the coffee shop to pick up a cup of coffee compared to having a cup at home and saving that money, avoiding circumstances where you can be involved in a car accident in a drive-thru, and spending that extra time with your family in the morning instead of in a line are just a few examples. Time, money, and especially family are things you can’t get enough of! They are also the things you are likely resolving to allocate more time to or want to better manage.” Duff adds, “Making your goals attainable for a resolution is also very important. Setting the bar at an achievable measure will keep you in good practice to continue; no one wants to make a resolution that only lasts until February. Protecting your physical assets is my main focus, and my job is to make sure my clients have enough coverage to replace items after a loss, enough liability coverage so there would not be a law suit if they were at fault in an incident, and so on. From a monetary standpoint I have the ability to take a look at where everything stands now, where clients want to be, and to provide guidance to help them meet their resolutions and get them where they want to go. Essentially, my job is to make sure year after year you have the best current protection available for what matters most in your life.”
If you are simply trying to up your game and be the best you can be in 2014, BrainWaveBalance offers a non-invasive system called BrainWave Optimization that is tailored to bring balance an
d harmony to the brain. Over 50,000 people worldwide have had successful and proven results utilizing Brainwave Optimization, unleashing the power of a maximized mind to support the most balanced and productive life possible. Patti Tenney of BrainWaveBalance says, “Nelson Mandela once said ‘There is no passion to be found playing small; in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.’ Are you weary from playing small? Do you get the feeling that your brain is working against you, not with you? Your brain is the control center for everything you think, see, feel, and do. It drives your visual and spatial senses, attention and concentration, memory, language and your ability to reason and be logical. When your brainwaves are out of balance, so is everything else. If you’re ready to fully live the life you’re capable of living, whether that involves a New Year’s resolution to overcome addictive dependencies, anger issues, PTSD, depression, sleep disorders, smoking, or anxiety–consider Brainwave Optimization™. Brainwave Optimization™ is a safe, non-invasive, clinically researched, tested, and proven neuro-technology that re-boots the brain, empowering our clients to be the best version of themselves they can be and to live the life of which they are capable. You can, too!”
Taking on a new hobby is also an excellent New Year’s resolution, especially if it is something you have always wanted to learn or do. Many times instruments are purchased around the holidays or received as a gift and the next step once you own an instrument is learning to play it! While it is easy to find instructors for popular instruments such as the piano or guitar, if you are a drummer there is now a special place for you too. DRUM.ARCH provides individual lessons
for all types of drums and encompassing all genres of music, but they also offer group classes for rudimental snare drum students. DRUM.ARCH owner Charles Lindbloom has played the drums for 44 years, and has been teaching others how to play them for 38 years. He says, “As the only studio to feature group lessons, I pride myself in providing an environment that allows for artistic collaboration when learning new techniques and emphasizes good habits and a solid foundation. Percussion instruments are provided for any of the lessons I offer; all you have to do is bring your drum sticks and be ready to learn!” He adds, “When setting New Year’s resolutions regarding learning a new skill or taking on a new hobby, it is important to know if you will like it or not before you invest a lot of time and money into it. For this reason, I provide a free 25 minute lesson with no obligation to first time students who are interested in learning to play the drums.”
New Year’s resolutions are only effective if you can manage to follow through with them all the way until you have met your goal. The same research study introduced in the beginning of the story provides the stark statistic that of all those who regularly make New Year’s resolutions, only 8% are successful in achieving their resolution. It is important to remember that finding success in any goal requires a high level of commitment over an extended period of time. Here are some tips on how to find success with the goals you set at the beginning of 2014:
• Make sure your goals are attainable and keep it simple. Many people use the start of a new year as an opportunity to make large lists of ways they intend to overhaul their lives. Extreme makeovers, whether personal or professional, actually have the potential to create more harm than good in your life. The average person has so many competing priorities that this approach can be psychologically daunting and doomed for failure. Set your goal, make a plan and revise it until it is as simple, and follow through. It’s not necessarily the extent of the change that matters, but more so your recognition that a lifestyle change or goal is important and you are working towards bettering yourself.
• Make sure your goal is measurable and specific. For example, resolutions to “lose some weight” or “start going to the gym” are not specific at all and create loopholes. Is it really successful if you lost one or two pounds and didn’t really change much? Well, according to your goal it is but what have you really achieved? When do you plan to “start” going to the gym? Next week? Next month? This trick to make failure impossible certainly opens up the door for procrastination. Instead of being vague, be as articulate as possible. Consider how you can achieve your goal and how you will measure your progress, and then make smaller goals that incorporate lifestyle changes. For example, your new goal would be to eliminate soda and fast food except for a few scheduled cheat days each month, and to attend boot camp classes three times a week.
• Keep your goals, and your progress towards them, in your face constantly. Utilizing strategies such as checklists, vision boards, personal diaries, or blogs give you important reminders and the chance to chart your progress or lack thereof and evaluate where you are at periodically. It will keep you honest and clear on the status of achieving your particular goal.
• Keep the faith. If you believe in yourself, set your mind to something, and commit to change there really isn’t much you can’t do. I know there are a lot of reasons why you might fail, but simply setting a goal is the first step in the right direction and does significantly raise your chances of achieving whatever that may be. Willpower is undoubtedly a dominant force, and you have only as much of it as you think you have.
The best way to ensure your success is not only to set smaller goals that lead up to the larger, main goal; but also to make your goal known to others and to create a support system. This can come from local professionals or mentors in your community, your family, friends, co-workers, etc. Having a support system will hold you accountable and keep you on the path to achieving the goals you have set for yourself in 2014. We wish you all luck and success with your New Year’s resolutions in the coming year!