“Revolution is a lifestyle not a war.” –David Linhart

Happy New Year! Hope 2010 has gotten off to a healthy and joyous start for you. I went to a great New Year’s Eve party and so far 2010 is rockin’ for this single chic!

Anyway, this blog is not entirely about the resurgence of my social life. I want to say a few words about New Year’s Resolutions since that is the topic on everyone’s mind this time of the year. From the title of this article “The Revolution Against Resolutions” I know you’re thinking that I’m going to tell you to throw out your resolutions and just love yourself. That’s partially true, to be healthy you do need to love yourself first and foremost. Resolutions in and of themselves are not good or bad, it’s simply a matter of how we use them.

The typical resolutioneer will say, “I’m going to work out 5 times a week, and totally give up alcohol, sugar and bread for the whole year.” And then when she slips up once and gets re-addicted to these things, the ensuing shame is sometimes enough to make one throw out the whole program for a long time and get lost in a war of self-flagellation.

I really love the quote that starts this blog, “Revolution is a lifestyle not a war” because it’s true! Changing your life to be healthier on all levels is a committment to a lifestyle, not a short-term fix to blast your fat, shred your arms or exorcise your emotional demons. Look at the people that you admire, people who have demonstrated a high level of health and fitness and are also successful in other areas of their lives. It’s generally not because they beat themselves up or have to constantly fight their inner nature or the desires of others around them. These are people that are committed to excellence on many levels and see the integral role that good health and fitness plays in contributing to success in other areas. I’ve taken note of a few more important qualities of successful people that I admire, people who have no need for resolutions:

1. They are usually quiet and peaceful about their lifestyle changes. A person successfully executing a clean nutrition plan probably won’t tell you about it unless asked because she has no need to justify or get approval. When she has fallen off her plan, she chooses to make peace with the slip up and gently returns to the eating program that makes her feel healthy the next day. There is no self-criticism or treadmill penance.
2. There is always joy in the process of people who successfully get and stay healthy. If you hate spinning, you will not stay thin doing it for very long. Find an activity that you like or maybe even love. Or if you hate exercise find a trainer that you like or maybe even love (or workout buddies!). People who find health and fitness intrinsically rewarding look energetic and attract others to them in business, friendship and romance! People who go to the gym because they have an inner belief that they way they look is unacceptable to society look exhausted. This is a battle they never win because if one believes she is unacceptable, she will attract others who will confirm that belief.
3. People who maintain health and fitness all year long use positive thinking and affirmations to stay that way. If you are currrently saying negative things about yourself to get yourself to the gym, change them to positive statements. For example, change “I really got fat since Thanksgiving” to “I am getting healthier everyday” or “I am actively involved in becoming my best self” or “I am fit and strong, and lean!” If you are not used to doing this, at the beginning it will feel fake but over time you will start to believe these statements and see the results. That’s what affirmations are for, if we already believed it, we wouldn’t have to do an affirmation.
4. Successful people surround themselves with supportive friends and family. I’m pretty good at this one by now as I’ve been affirming for years that all of my relationships are loving and harmonious. Take a good look around you. Do you always feel bad after hanging out with certain people? This is powerful feedback. To stay in good health you must learn to either minimize or reframe your time with those individuals and emphasize your time in supportive work and social environments.

Resolutions are powerless without some intelligent action behind them. Here are my top six tips to make long term positive changes in your health and fitness:

1. Work out at least 3 times a week to see change. If you are beginning a fitness program, set aside at least 3 specific times that you will work out. If you only have 3 times a week to work out, weights or yoga class in combination with a clean diet will give you much more bang for your buck. Cardio is the gravy in addition to this. Two high-intensity 45 minute weight circuits and a solid one-hour yoga class per week is enough to keep you in great shape and will raise your metabolic rate more than just cardio alone. Weights and yoga will also give you muscle tone which will make you look fitter. For more information about personal training please visit my website at www.theorganicexperiencenyc.com.
2. Don’t keep junk in the house. Just don’t do it. I’ve heard every rationalization in the book on this one. “I need to keep junk for my kids/husband/wife/when company comes over.” 9 times out of 10, if junk is in your house you’ll eat it. If it’s not you won’t or you’ll eat it less. It’s that simple. Not to mention your kids and family don’t really need that crap either and if you stock the house with delicious substitutions, most times no one will notice. I liken this to the fact that I just got rid of my cable box. When I had cable, 9 times out of 10 I would find myself watching some trashy show like Rock of Love, Real Housewives or Jersey Shore. Now that I don’t have cable, no more junk TV unless I’m at someone else’s house and then it’s a special treat.
3. If you have not fully converted to all organic food, start the next time you go shopping. The change doesn’t have to be shocking. I find the easiest changes to make first are buying organic eggs, organic produce and strictly avoiding anything with hydrogenated oils or corn syrup. When I first started eating all organic and using non-toxic cosmetics and cleaning products, it took me about a year to shift everything. Be patient with yourself, but start now.
4. Usually the hardest resolutions to keep are staying way from addictions including but not limited to: alcohol, cigarettes, sugar, aspartame, gluten (bread), dairy, chocolate, and caffeine. If you simply cannot go 2 weeks without any of the above, you are addicted. Yes dairy and gluten can be addictive because many people are allergic to them and we sometimes crave what we are allergic or intolerant to. If you are addicted to any of these things and you would like to kick the addiction, I recommend you start with noticing what the addiction is helping you deflect from. Usually it’s some form of fear, guilt or shame. People don’t intentionally hurt themselves unless there’s a payoff. Deflecting from emotional pain is usually the payoff. Once you have identified what you are deflecting from (therapy is great for this), I would cut the substance out cold-turkey, with the exception of caffeine which I believe is best to wean.
5. Make the bulk of your diet grass-fed meat and poultry, pastured eggs, wild fish, raw dairy, organic nuts, coconut oil, olive oil, organic fruit and veggies, non-gluten whole grains like brown rice and buckwheat, and water. Keep it simple. Use the spices you like. Use as much Celtic sea salt as you like.
6. Have an accountability partner, or two. An accountability partner is someone that is genuinely committed to his or her own fitness path and will keep you committed also. Someone that you feel comfortable talking with and you won’t mind if they ask you about your progress. Someone positive who will help you strategize through the slip-ups and asks for your help doing the same. Someone with whom there is a mutual caring. It also helps if it someone you really like. Pictured below are my two accountability partners, Jenny on the left and Sophia on the right. This fall I lost 2 grandparents and both my parents had surgery. I’m only human and the truth is there were some days that I could barely accomplish what I had to do to keep my life going, much less exercise. Because I take such good care of my health, my bottom line is a lot higher than most people, but even still, the events of my life caused me to take a momentary pause from fitness. These women train at the gym with me and are not only very committed to health and fitness but bring a great deal of levity, joy and laughter to the process. This has made all the difference for me and I know it will for you too. They were my angels at a time when I needed to be lifted. If you feel like you have fallen off the wagon, I guarantee there are angels (human or otherwise) around you waiting to help. Are you ready to let them?

HAPPY 2010!

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