7 Easy New Year’s Resolutions For Weight-Loss And Overall Health

1. I will do three (or four, or ten) sit-ups before I leave bed in the morning.

There’s no better way to get the blood running than a few sit-ups. And if you do them before you get up, you can get them out of your mind the rest of the day.

2. I will drink an extra glass of cold water during meals and snacks.

Cold water uses up calories as the body warms it to body temperature. It also makes you feel full faster, so you’ll eat less.

3. I will get a cordless phone and walk while using it.

When you walk, your brain gets more oxygen, so you’ll sound smarter on the phone. At the same time, you’ll be burning calories, so you’ll look better in real life too.

4. I will listen to more dance music.

First, it will make you feel happier, and happy people have less tendencies to overeat. Second, it just might make you feel like dancing, and dancing is good exercise. Third, it might make you feel like singing too, and that—believe it or not—burns calories also. (Especially when you do it at the top of your lungs.)

5. When I pick something from the floor, I will squat down instead of bend down.

This way, you get to exercise and develop your leg muscles. Remember, the more muscles you have, the quicker you burn fat. Besides, squatting is safer; bending down can hurt your back, especially if the object you are picking up is heavy.

6. Rather than wait for the elevator, I will use the stairs to go down.

If climbing up the stairs is too much for you, try using it to climb down. It takes less sweat and willpower, but it’s still better than just riding an elevator.

7. I will carry moist towelettes, powder and cologne in my bag all the time.

Sometimes, the urge to get active hits you, but you resist it because you don’t want to smell sweaty at work. Knowing that you have a quick-fresh-up kit at hand will give you the freedom to walk that extra mile (or meter) and stair-climb one more floor when the virtuousness-attack hits you.