By Lisa Snow, Personal Trainer

Ring in a Healthy New Year

Instead of a “New Years resolution”, why not try something more creative this year?  Visualize how you would like to feel at the end of 2015.  Not how you would like to look, but how you would like to feel.  Is there a trip you’d like to take?  A sports activity or class you’d like to try?  A friend, family member, or pet you’d like to be able to keep up with?  How would being fit help you make those dreams happen?  Once you have that mental image of where you’ll be and how you’ll feel at the end of next year, here are 3 action steps you can take to make it happen.

1) Share your vision with at least one other person that you actually talk to in real life (not just with Facebook “friends”).  This could be an old friend, your spouse, or a personal trainer.

2) Define what being “fit” means to you.  Being healthy—not just skinny—involves having the energy to do what you want to do, when you want to do it.  So get specific about what you want to be able to do.  (“Keep up with my grandkids.”  “Feel great about jumping rope now, even though I wasn’t good at it when I was a kid.”  “Have as much fun running as my dog does!”) This is so much more empowering than having a goal weight!

3) Try one activity you’ve never done before.  Is there something you’ve always wanted to try but never gotten around to?  Or something fascinating you just recently heard about?  Here are some examples to ignite your imagination:

Take a dance class

Attempt a rock climbing wall

Try a new style of yoga (or try a basic yoga class for the first time)

Go ice skating with friends

If you’re a gym person, try going to the pool

If you’re a swimmer, try the gym

Sign up for a martial arts or self-defense class

Go bowling

Take a horseback riding lesson

Walk a scenic trail in Central Park