Health + Fitness: New Decisions for the New Year

I certainly understand the skepticism around resolutions. In a sense, resolutions go against our very nature. Resolutions are all about change, but our brains are wired for predictability and stability. Most of us have past experiences with goals we’ve set and, for whatever reason, discarded. So with the new year here, your ambivalence about trying again is completely normal. But resolutions CAN work. The new year offers up 12 months of completely blank pages, making right now a fresh chance to commit to some DIY projects … on yourself.

You want change? Then get comfortable with being uncomfortable. According to author Michael Hyatt, the goals we set for ourselves fall in one of these zones:

1. Comfort: An easy goal that won’t take much effort to achieve.
2. Discomfort: A goal that’s possible but will be a big challenge.
3. Delusional: A goal that you don’t have the capacity to achieve.

When you’re seeking self-improvement, the kind that truly changes you for the better, you want to set goals in the Discomfort Zone. Your goal should intimidate you a little or even make you sweat when you think about it. You might think you’d be better off with setting easy Comfort Zone resolutions, where you’re pretty much guaranteeing your success. But significant change doesn’t come from goals in the Comfort Zone.

Let’s say you need to lose 30 pounds, and you’ve set a New Year’s resolution to lose five pounds. That’s a Comfort Zone goal. You’ve probably even lost those five pounds before and know it wouldn’t take much effort to do so again. That’s the pull of your Comfort Zone holding you back from achieving what you really want to achieve. Your Comfort Zone and your potential cannot live together.

So, as you consider your resolution(s) for 2023, I’m hoping you’ll choose a goal or two that will make you uncomfortable and take some serious hard work. Get yourself to the Discomfort Zone, friends. That’s where all the great stuff in life happens.

Creating Travel Goals for 2023

Research shows travel has many health benefits. Knowing that James and I began creating yearly travel goals. It helps us make sure we’re getting out there frequently and are taking trips that are fit-focused. I love that we make this plan together because it’s a way we both get to have a say in how our year will unfold. To set our travel goals, we start by making these lists:

1) Endurance Events and Festivals

One of the ways we keep fitness a priority is by participating in running and cycling events around the US. Each winter, James and I identify events we’d like to do the following year, ones we can plan RV trips around. Having endurance events scattered throughout the year helps keep us motivated to set up (and stick to!) fitness training schedules.

2) RV Rallies and Social Gatherings

Research shows that being socially connected has significant health benefits. James and I are both introverts, so this takes some work for us. We set goals each year to attend a certain number of rallies and social gatherings because we know it’s good for us, even though it’s out of our Comfort Zones. Besides, we always end up having a great time!

3) Fun Things to Do

Outdoor recreation is my jam. Hiking, biking, paddling—the ability to do these things all over the country is the reason we became RVers in the first place. It’s also a way we get to be outdoors and in nature: doing our bodies and souls good and earning us more coins in our health banks. As James and I set our annual travel goals, we plan many trips around actually doing the outdoor things we love.

Once we have our lists completed, we prioritize them. We pick out our top trips and put them on the travel calendar—making them the goal for the year. We all have different amounts of free time and trip budgets but setting travel goals for the year is something anyone can do. Doing so helps you plan travel dates and make reservations well in advance. It also gives you things to look forward to throughout your year. Perhaps knowing there’s an amazing RV trip in your future will even be an extra boost of motivation to stay fit, so you can take on that trip with good health on your side and lots of energy.

Fit Trips

RV shares her suggestion for a fit-focused event and destination perfect for your next RV trip.

DO: Run Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas
When: February 25–26, 2023

Imagine the busy and vibrant Vegas Strip at dusk with absolutely no cars. And then imagine yourself out there in the middle of the road, wearing a silly costume and adorned in neon glow necklaces. Countless live bands are playing everywhere you turn, and the whole visual spectacle that makes up the Strip—all yours to soak up.

One of the rare times this actually happens? During the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas running weekend. James and I registered months ago (though I’m still working on convincing him to wear a costume). Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas is one of the world’s largest running parties. For two evenings in February, the Strip gets shut down, and participants hit the streets to run—or party—their way through the 5k course (on Saturday evening) or the 10k or half marathon course (Sunday evening).

Music is the heart and soul of this event, with live bands and DJ’s playing all along the course, and a post-race concert happening late into the evening. Hope we’ll see you there!

Healthy Food Spotlight

You can find root vegetables like beets still in season this month. Beets are chock full of vitamins and fiber. They also have anti-inflammatory benefits thanks to their high betalain content. Roast some up and top with goat cheese, olive oil, and some fresh chives for a healthy and comforting treat this winter!

Get Out!

Spending time outside in cold weather has a bunch of health benefits. Cold temps:

• Boosts your brain power
• Lowers inflammation
• Improves your sleep
• Amps up your immune system
• Burns more calories
• Rejuvenates your skin

And perhaps the most fascinating benefit—at least to me—is the research that suggests cold temps have the potential to increase your lifespan. So don’t let winter’s chill keep you home and indoors. Bust out your RV for a winter wonderland adventure!