Fitness

Whether you greet the New Year with a roar or with a meow, odds are that you've given more than passing thought to where your life stands now, and where you want it to lead.

But if you haven't taken a complete inventory of all aspects of your life and made a to-do list for the next year, no need to worry. We've asked an expert to suggest ways in which you can start or continue to put your house in order. After all, why let another year pass by before making changes that can improve your life right now?

A word of caution, though. As with any list of good intentions, some are easier than others. Set yourself up for success by choosing "resolutions" that are do-able for you right now and tackle them. Then pick some that you can visualize as long-term goals and work on them a bit at a time. Jot them down, tape them to your bathroom mirror, and keep them in your everyday consciousness. A year from now, take time to congratulate yourself on how much closer you are to living the life you want to live.

By Rochelle Rice, MA

• Embrace the goal of an active lifestyle. Fitness is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Dancing at a wedding, participating in a company bowling party or walking a 5K fundraiser for breast cancer will help to enhance your fitness level while having a great time.
• Focus on functional fitness. If you are already training in a gym, focus on exercises that will help you pick up your children (legs, shoulders and back); carry groceries and briefcases (arms and shoulders); or balance exercises to help you support a mature adult (parents or grandparents) who may need to lean on you for stability.
• Engage all of your senses. Movement should be a complete experience of all the senses. Fuel your body with great tastes that refresh, such as fresh fruits and crunchy vegetables. Wear appropriate fitness clothes that support you and feel good on your body. Wear a scent that invigorates you-citrus scents like lemon and orange will perk you up to move! And when at all possible, get outdoors. Breath the fresh air, smell the flowers and trees, see the nature around you and bless all of your senses for this beautiful experience of movement!
• Play with a child. As adults, we often lose our sense of fun and freedom. Instead of a grueling workout on an inhuman treadmill, try playing with a three-year-old. Enjoy the activities of down to and up from the floor, running around the dining table, crawling up the stairs, and jumping in and out of chairs. It's quite a workout!
• Honor our collective consciousness. On those mornings when you just don't feel like moving your body, hold on to the idea that we, as women, need to honor and embrace a fitness program that accepts us for who we are, no matter what our size. In doing so, we are changing the face of fitness and clearing the way for other plus-size women and young girls to join us in leading a life filled with health, vitality, physical activity and happiness.