If you can’t cinch that belt, touch your toes or do a push-up, it may be time for a visit to your primary care physician to implement your New Year’s resolutions of getting in shape, eating healthy, and losing weight.
Early in the new year is the perfect time to embark on a healthier life style and build on it throughout the year. While maintaining your correct weight is a significant health factor, a thorough check-up can confirm your health status, identify a potential problem early on, and help you develop a regimen for a healthy, active, and productive life.
No matter what time of the year, at Lane Family Practice we pride ourselves on our well-trained professional staff, our wide array of diagnostic tools, and our compassionate and close-to-home community-based care.
Whether it’s weight-loss, lifestyle modifications, or clinical care, consider these suggestions to stay motivated, prevent early-burnout, and achieve long-term success:
Focus on Food:
Keep an accurate daily record or food log of what, when, and where you eat. Either write it down or use one of several available online tracking apps. Reviewing your food log may help identify vulnerable times or situations that prompt you to unwittingly over-eat or eat more than you thought you did. The next time you encounter that tempting situation, you’ll be better prepared to avoid or effectively manage it.
Move More, Burn More:
Integrate more movement into your daily routine. For example, park far away from the grocery store, library, or mall, and don’t just grab the item you need. Deliberately allow more time to walk up and down each aisle.
Review, Evaluate and Be Flexible:
After a few days have elapsed, review your progress. What worked? What didn’t? Why? Ask other people who’ve lost weight and successfully maintained it, or join a weight loss group at a community center. What strategies did they use? Most importantly, be willing to switch tactics with a Plan B, C ,or whatever it takes to achieve long-term success.
To make an appointment with one of our experienced physicians at Lane Family Practice, please call 225-654-3607, or visit us online at LaneRMC.org.
