2019 resolutions for fitness, health, and wellbeing...

Runcarla

I don't usually make NYE resolutions, but I do review my fitness journal at the end of the calendar year and set goals for the coming year.

2018 was a year of adjustment after retiring in April. Schedules were all over the place as DH and I were sorting out new routines. I did weight workouts at the gym, swam, and rode my bike. I stopped running in June due to an issue that requires rehab. However, I was as likely to cry off a workout and spend a day in the garden or go for a long walk with DH. The best thing I did in 2018 was break a longstanding (bad) habit of raiding the fridge at night. (Why else would they put a light in there?) Though I still have interrupted sleep, I stay out of the kitchen. I have been 'good' for 5 months straight and am convinced that I have broken the habit.

For 2019, I have a goal of working out a minimum of 156 days or 13 days per month or 3 days per week. Weight training is central, but I like cardio and do laps when I can make a lane swim, or take a cycle fit class. I hope to resume running in a couple of months. So far I am a bit better than my projections (17 workouts/34 days) and rehab is progressing. If all goes well, I may pencil in a Sprint Triathlon for the summer.

Do you have health or fitness goals for 2019? Are you keeping your healthy resolutions?

Any day you move your body is a good day!

6 years ago

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12 replies

Latest reply was from Abhinav Singh

cjh

(website)

Veteran

My main fitness goals are to pick up the weight training to 2-3x a week again, after slacking for several months, and to up my running mileage to run a 4.37 mile race in early May and a 10K in late May in Colorado. The last race I ran was a 10K at the end of October, and my training schedule prepared me well so I felt great.

Unfortunately circumstances didn’t support the same weekly schedule when I got back in November. I feel extra sluggish right now due to a couple weeks of weather I didn’t want to even drive in, but this week looks better. Even if I can’t run outside, the gym has a good treadmill, and if I go in late afternoon when no one is there, I can cheat to go longer than the 30 minute limit. I should write out my weekly schedule on paper.

I also want to lose 4 pounds by March. I’ve never had any trouble dropping off the sweets-weight after the holidays, but this year it’s not easy!

I hope your healing and rehab goes well and quickly! It’s frustrating to be sidelined, but also motivating to really do the right things to get back to normal.

6 years ago

The Cat

Veteran

Inspiring to hear about your goals, Carla. And thank you for this reminder. I haven't set any health or fitness goals yet, but I absolutely ought to. Will have to think about it. There's been too little time due to many health issues among my loved ones and heavy workload. But I have to be prepared for similar situations in the months to come. So my goals and my fitness program have to be realistic and fit a busy schedule. Hope to find a solution within the next week.

Happy about my weight. (BMI: 23.3) Have recently lost 4 kilos (just by saying no to extra food portions and some chocolate and snacks). Intend to keep the weight and maybe loose another 2 kilos.

However, I really want to firm up my upper arms, my mid section and my thighs. If you, Carla, or any others here, have any recommendations regarding effective exercises for these specific areas, I would be very interested. (Personal info: I'm nearly 62, and I work in an office 8 hours a day 5 days a week, most of the time in teamwork with groups of other people and using computers. Besides, I attend interesting evening/night meetings 3 times a week. Many of my weekends are spent helping sick family members living other places. I don't have access to a swimming pool, and I'm not attracted to health studios / fitness centers and classes. I need a fitness program I can do by myself, like walking, running in nature, stairs running, exercise biking, weight lifting, exercises on a yoga mat, etc.)

6 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Carla and well done on your start to the year.

cjh - good luck with your goals.

The Cat - there are some good videos on you tube for workouts at home. I don't have a specific one to recommend but I know friends that do Yoga for runners and Yoga by Adrienne.

I have had an okay fitness start to the year. I ended 2018 with a sore shoulder and arm - and getting to the bottom of it unravelled some bad habits with breathing, posture, stance, work and my gym workouts. I ended up taking almost two weeks almost fully off exercise with just some gentle walks. I have been having treatment and am on the mend and trying to improve some of my habits.

My running is going better, have also been back at the gym but mostly avoiding arm work....but committing to yoga and stretching.

6 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for starting this, Carla. And I hope your rehab goes well and you are able to return to your training with full energy. Good for you for breaking the nighttime fridge habit! I'm not a nighttime eater but I am a nighttime waker and I know how hard a pattern it can be to break!

Ditto to cjh and Sal. Rehab -- and realism -- are so important. Beating ourselves up is worse than useless. And sometimes a short rest is just what is required.

The Cat -- if you have a smartphone, you can also get a number of apps that take you through workouts at home. I don't yet have a particular program that I can vouch for but I have started using the Nike plans on the Nike Training Camp app. They allow you to choose your level and the type of workout you are looking for -- with equipment or not, strength or cardio or stretching, etc. I will let you know how it goes.

In the past year, my fitness has taken a nosedive. I got the proof today when I did a benchmark workout. Yikes! Not to mention a weight gain of nearly 10 pounds. But there were good reasons that I didn't make it to the gym, and I'm not beating myself up about it. I did the best I could do and while I wasn't doing weights workouts regularly, I was still moving a great deal. My heart rate is fantastic!

My goal this year is to return to weights workouts about 3-4 times per week and continue with the walking, running, hiking, skating, and other outdoor exercise. Ideally, I'd like to add a yoga class also. I would like to lose those extra pounds but that in itself isn't really a goal. I'm less interested in the number on the scale than on regaining muscle.

I have a membership at our local community fitness centre and I have been using it for the past month. Doing pretty well. I continue to walk a lot (by most people's standards) and have also resumed running occasionally (or rather, jogging, since running is a bit of a misnomer considering my slow pace.) I LOVE being able to run the Pacific Spirit trails. The hard paths and frozen roads in Kingston had become tough on these aging bones! But the trails are wonderful and make it such a pleasure. I get my "forest bathing" while also getting exercise.

6 years ago

Jane

Veteran

Super to hear your goals and well done with the fridge habit.

I’m hoping to get back out on my bike again very soon and train for a London to Paris bike ride in July. I’m so looking forward to to the ride and the training leading up to it. I’m going with good friends and feel comfortable with the distance and proposed pace. I’m sure I will have moments along the way but I’m feeling positive this morning!!

6 years ago

Anonymous

Yes, thanks , Carla for starting this thread. Your fitness regime is always motivating (as well as a little daunting ) , and I'm feeling the need to return to form myself after a long period of low activity. It's the first time in 20 years that my fitness has taken a back seat to other things - capped off with a broken arm right at Christmas that set me back mentally and physically.

I'm never one for setting goals and resolutions, as I simply don't stick to them. It either happens organically and when I'm good and ready, or not at all. Breaking some nighttime eating habits is a good idea - and thanks for bringing that up. I tend to get snack-ish in the evening, especially if I'm having a glass of wine, and after a full day at work . It is a bad habit, and I really need to address that. I just had my first physio appointment for my arm yesterday, and was read the riot act by the therapist re: my current laziness and inactivity. So - the game is on, and I'd determined not to carry on down the path to looking older than I need to and before my time. A toned and fit body goes a long way towards keeping age-related hurts and issues at bay.

The Cat - despite it's off-putting name, BeachBody videos (you can choose from 100's of really well-produced home workout videos - including yoga) are good for working out at home. You subscribe to the app - which I think isn't terribly expensive compared to a gym membership. I've heard many good things about it and am considering it myself .

6 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I enjoyed reading about your goals and plans, ladies. I'm impressed. Go LADIES!

Carla, I hope your injuries sort themselves out, and good job breaking the habit you wanted to break. You are AMAZING.

cjh, I'm sure you'll reach your goals post polar vortex. Blame everything on the horrid weather. You look fantastic.

The Cat, you are a saint. And congrats on the weight loss. Rock on.

Sal, I know all about sore arms - for me, it's about the right and regular yoga class, which helps more than anything. No weight training, because it aggravates sore arms and wrists. Hang in there and sending healing thoughts. You always look healthy to me.

Suz, you look better than ever, and I haven't noticed weight gain so you're doing something VERY right, Queen Radiant Health :). Enjoy the milder West Coast weather for outdoor activities (..... as I look at 3 inches of snow from my home office window in Seattle.....)

Jane, I remember that you bike. EXCELLENT endorphins for stress relief. You go girl.

Lisa P, I can imagine how your broken shoulder set you back both physically and emotionally. Very grotty and annoying. You are thankfully on the other side of it, which must be such a relief! I bet you'll feel revitalized and back to your fit self in no time. Endorphins are excellent ego-boosters too.

6 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh, yes! To answer the question. I like to set goals and be disciplined and organized. It's very satisfying. Yet, I don't set fitness, health and well being goals - although I take those things seriously. I'm an active city and dog walker, and love my heated vinyasa yoga classes. I do something daily - a lot or a little - and that's good enough for me.

My main goal is to RELAX (my word for 2019), enjoy life, live my best life, choose joy, and prioritize the important stuff. Physical exercise helps with that, as do lots of other things that are therapeutic to me and others.

6 years ago

Anonymous

I am continuing the same goals that I had set the previous year. I workout with a personal trainer twice a week and twice a week I work out on my own. My own workout focuses on cardio, core strength, balance, and flexibility. My personal trainer sets my other goals for weight training and overall proper body mechanics.

My only other goal for 2019 is to understand how the various muscles work in our bodies and to learn how to correct the imbalances. For example, it is our glutes that lift us out of our chairs and not our hips. But if we are using muscles other than our glutes, what is it that we need to do to make sure other muscles are not doing the work that our glutes should be doing.

6 years ago

Anonymous

This time of year is a big struggle to have healthy habits for me, but I do what I can with the energy I have, and am trying to be zen about it. As soon as it warms up and stays light later I'll be back to 150% again
Right now I'm trying to be mindful about how my food makes me feel. If I am hungry again a couple hours after eating, thats something I should not eat. Last night after dinner, instead of going for something sweet, I sat with the feeling and decided I did not need to eat more.
With fitness, I want to have as much variety as possible. I used to try to do 4x cardio 3x strength weekly, but right now I'm just being open to whatever is available straight after work. It all has athletic and cognitive value!

6 years ago

The Cat

Veteran

Sal, Suz, lisa p, and Angie--Thank you all so much for tips, suggestions and kind words.

6 years ago

Abhinav Singh

(website)

Member

My 2019 resolution is to help my patient in the clinic. I am a dentist and I want to help people.

6 years ago

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