Simple Fitness Tips to Help You Lose Weight in 2014

If you’ve made a resolution to lose weight in 2014, adding a fitness routine into your life is a great way in ensure you reach your goal.

To help area individuals lose weight and get healthier this year, Griffin Hospital will host “Lose Weight, Gain Health” on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. in the hospital Meditation and Learning Center, 130 Division Street, Derby. Led by Griffin Hospital Exercise Physiologist Eunice Lisk, MS, and nutrition experts from Medi-Weightloss Clinics in Shelton this free presentation will offer simple strategies and innovative programs to help shed the excess pounds as well as discuss the health implications of being overweight.

Attendees can receive a free BMI screening and consultation at the event.

To reserve your spot or for more information, CLICK HERE or call 203.732.1511 or visit griffinhealth.org.

Tip for adding fitness

Weight loss plans are most successful when they include healthy eating and fitness. For many, beginning a fitness routine is the toughest part of a weight-loss resolution, so here are some quick tips from the experts at Medi-Weightloss:

1.      Get Approval From Your Doctor First - Talk to your primary care physician prior to initiating any form of increased physical activity. Exercise does exert stress on the body, and you want to make sure your body is ready. The risk of heart disease increases for men in their mid-40s and women about a decade later, and exertion can trigger heart attacks in people with no previous symptoms.

2. Start With Something You Enjoy - Chances are if you enjoy something, you will make it a lifelong habit. Physical activity can be anything from ballroom dancing and badminton to swimming and snowboarding. The key is to find something which you are passionate about.

3. Set Your Goals - Goal setting involves establishing specific, measurable, and time-targeted objectives. Promising you are going to work out isn’t enough. Set goals, both short term and long term, and allow yourself rewards for meeting them. For example, you could set a short-term goal to walk 3-4 times a week for 30 minutes and to strength train 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes. Your long-term goal could be to lose 20 pounds by April or to lower your cholesterol level 10 points by May.

4. Don't Overdo It - All it takes is a trip to the local gym in January to see that the majority of individuals begin the New Year workout enthusiastically, only to have their fitness routine fall to the wayside by spring. If you are new to exercise, unrealistic goals will only set you up for failure. Simply walking five minutes a day or taking one yoga class per week is enough to begin making exercise a habit. You can always increase your activity. The key is to avoid exercise burnout, which can lead to abandoning exercise completely. Set goals that allow you to improve your fitness level without overdoing it.

5. Schedule It - It's easy to get overwhelmed during the day and skip your workout. There is always one more task to complete, or one more meeting to attend. One solution is to treat your workout like a meeting. Record it in your planner and keep the appointment. After all, you will have better performance at work if you are taking care of yourself.

6. Know Your Exercise Type - By scheduling your exercise in the early morning, you could set yourself up for failure. Each of us has our own unique internal clock. There are times of the day when you are full of energy and also those times when you are running on empty. The key is to schedule your exercise session when you have optimum energy and enthusiasm. If you are a morning person, getting up one hour earlier may not be too much of an adjustment, whereas if you tend to stay up late, you could be hitting the snooze button rather than hitting the pavement for that morning run.

For more simple tips and information about ways to make your weight-loss plans successful, come to “Lose Weight, Gain Health” on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m.

About Tuesday Talks

“Lose Weight, Gain Health” is part of Griffin Hospital's Healthy U “Tuesday Talks,” a series of free wellness talks featuring Griffin Hospital medical experts and community partners providing trusted health information and answers to questions on a wide range of topics. To find out about upcoming Tuesday Talks, visit griffinhealth.org/programsevents.