It happens every year. So predictable, so cliché, yet so many of us continue to do it.
“This year I will get myself into a consistent workout routine.” “This year I will be in shape.” “This year I will eat healthier.” Is it worth it to even make these claims?
Chris Hasbrouck, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator and Assistant Varsity Men’s Lacrosse Coach, at St. Mary’s College, warns students about trying too much, too soon. “These goals are actually admirable and very realistic….but it is how we go about it that really matters. The problem is that people have unrealistic expectations. They expect to change overnight. They think that coming to the gym for a week and going on a crash diet will make them a supermodel or a bodybuilder. The truth is that it takes time,” says Hasbrouck.
All hope is not lost, however. Hasbrouck explains that finding a healthy weight is a very simple equation. “You burn more calories than you eat, and you will lose weight. You burn less calories than you eat, and you will gain weight.”
So is it bad to go on a diet? Hasbrouck says that the problem with all diets is that they are not natural. Diets, in some way or another, deprive your body of something that it needs. The only ingredient that Hasbrouck would encourage everyone to cut out is saturated fats. These are the unhealthy fats that are found in many processed foods.
The trick is to eat sensibly, and use a variety of workouts (including both cardio and strength training), to get your mind and body feeling better. Says Hasbrouck, “it is not about specific poundage. It’s about setting realistic goals for yourself, achieving them without expecting results overnight, maintaining these goals, and most importantly, feeling good about yourself.”
When asked what Hasbrouck’s New Year’s resolution is for 2007, he says it is to enjoy life, and make the most of every day. “Sometimes we all just take things for granted. I am very privileged to everyday be able to get out of bed and live my life. I think this is something we all need to appreciate more.”