Published in the January 6 – 19, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Dorene O’Malley

Dorene O'Malley

Dorene O’Malley

About 45 percent of the population makes New Year’s resolutions, according to the Statistic Brain Research Institute. The No. 1 resolution is to lose weight. No. 5 is staying fit and healthy. Both are worthwhile goals and both are subject to fall off your list when the year gets rolling and life steps in.

Only 8 percent of those people who make a resolution actually achieve their goals. Here are some ideas to help you be one of the eight percenters.

Set realistic health goals and expectations for yourself. Even the best GPS cannot help you find your way to an unknown destination. Assess where you are right now and where you want to go with your health and fitness goals.

If the only movement you have taken during the last few years is to walk from the house to the car, your hips, knees, ankles, back and various other body parts will rebel. And you’ll most likely get injured if you jump into a program that is too advanced for you.

Start by getting yourself used to more movement first, then build up slowly to more challenging movement. Being able to sustain whatever program you decide for yourself will yield much better results than an all-or-nothing philosophy.

Find something you enjoy. Let’s face it, we don’t like pain, boredom or not seeing results. So avoid choosing exercise activities that bring about any of those things. If you really hate going to the gym, don’t go. Life is short and there are many ways to move that can be enjoyable.

Try something new. Roller skating, dancing, Pilates, yoga, swimming, tennis, cycling, hiking and sky diving are all activities that can be found locally. If you are brand new to an activity, find an expert to teach you the ropes so that your experience is positive and you don’t overdo it and end up on the sofa for a week afterward because of physical soreness and pain.

Find a buddy. If no one you know wants to go with you, the buddy can be new too.

Knowing someone is waiting on you holds you accountable and you are more likely to keep showing up. He or she may also have ideas that you hadn’t thought of that will lead you to other activities. Before you know it, with a buddy’s encouragement you’ve surpassed your current goal and are on to a new one.

No money, no problem. There are many ways to get movement into your life without spending money.

Walking is a effective weight-bearing activity that doesn’t cost a thing. If you are already a walker, add some up-and-down to your routine by taking advantage of our local parks and outdoor spaces. Being outdoors works parts of our bodies that we don’t think about, like the eye muscles, it gets you looking farther away than your computer screen or the controls on a treadmill.

There are also muscles that regulate body temperature that come into play when walking outside as well as variances in terrain that will make your feet and ankles work differently than they do on a treadmill. The elevation changes will also hit upon muscles in the leg that always being on level surfaces do not provide. And of course, it gives us doses of sunshine and fresh air.

Use the jungle gyms. Why should the kids have all the fun? See if you can do what the kids are doing. When is the last time you hung or swung from your arms?

There are lots of parks in town that are fully equipped. With imagination, you can use a whole lot of muscles that don’t see a lot of love in a typical day.

If you have injuries, ailments or needs that require modifications and extra assistance, seek out a qualified instructor that can help you with a program to achieve your goals. There are always more than one way to reach a destination.

With desire and persistence most everyone can find ways to lose weight and be more fit and healthy.

Have a healthy and happy 2016!

Dorene O’Malley is the owner and a certified instructor at CoreHealth Method — Pilates & Corrective Movement in. She wrote this for Morgan Hill Life.