Top 5 Things that can sabatoge your "Get Healthy" Groove

Getting healthy is a lifestyle change. Sure, there are always advertisements for the "Get Healthy Quick" gimmicks that promise no effort. The key word is gimmick and the problem is they seldom work. The magic pills promise to fight the fat; yet things just stay the same or get worse because you are depending on something else that isn't in your control.

When the new year starts, many people decide it is time to start a new health kick. Yet this healthy attitude often times gets overpowered by busy lifestles and just pure laziness and a lack of determination.

Sometimes people just get into the health kick because they start feeling uncomfortable in their own skin. They wake up one day and they realize they no longer know the person staring back at them. When this happens they are ready to make changes.

Most likely, this health kick will be the start of a workout program, making healthier choices when it comes to food, and maybe even kicking some of those other bad habits. Yet be warned... there are so many things in life that will attempt to sabatoge your efforts. So make those good habits a firm habit before you go back to were you started!

So what are these top 5 things that can sabatoge you? They may be something that you never thought of... and even worse... that you can't avoid!

Everyone looks forward to vacation... so the thought that vacation could be bad for you might come with a little bit of anger. After all, itt is a chance to get away and relax! It is a time to rejuvinate. How can that be bad for you?

Think of how you spend your time rejuvinating. Is fast food your food of choice? Are you drinking too much alcohol? Are you straying from your traditional workout routines? Most likely all three of these are going to be answered with a yes. But they are all parts of being on vacation, but they make it very easy to lose your routine. Once your routine is lost, it might be difficult to get back into.

For anybody that has known me, I have been on a kick to lose weight and get healthier. My vacation was the reason I started this journey in the first place. After all, my sister was getting married and I didn't want to be the "fat bridesmaid". This was also going to be the first time I saw most of my family in almost a year. Frankly, I wanted the "Wow" factor to happen. So I got to work!

From the time I started my weight loss journey, I had lost more than 30 pounds (this was started before my journey with P90X) and I had shred 23 inches. That was a whole lot of weight. It was well worth it though. The dress fit me perfectly (good thing I lost the weight or I probably wouldn't have even got a thigh in there) and I will happily admit I dropped some jaws. In fact, my own father didn't even recognize me standing next to him. (I will give him a break since he had just finished a long shift at work!)

Needless to say, this vacation also meant we were trying to squeeze in visits with many family and friends. My eating habits - well- were not to be admired. The alcohol I consumed.... made for some fun times. And the exercise... was pretty much nonexistant (unless you count dancing at the wedding and running from place to place). There just didn't seem to be enough time in the day to do everything!

When I got back home, I had gained back 3 pounds. Talk about devestating. After all that hard work, one week off and 3 pounds snuck up really fast. Luckily for me though, most of it was water retention and within a few days, I was back to normal!

So the lesson in all of this: Vacations are a great way to relax and rejuvinate and really connect with family and friends. However, don't go too crazy if you aren't prepared to deal with the consequences. While my choices could have been considered "bad" in terms of healthy decisions, I still watched myself and was conscious of the decisions I was making. Therefore I was prepared for what could happen.

If you have been on a health kick, you will find a vacation might be those two steps back in your progress. The key is to get back to your routine once you get back. It doesn't take long to revert back to old habits!

Getting sick is sometimes unavoidable. However, the more you exercise and the healthier you are, the more likely you are to have a strong immune system. Yet, even the strongest of immune systems sometimes crash.

This is what happened to me. I had run myself into the ground during my vacation. I was stressing beforehand (not good for your immune system) and during the vacation I was stressing to visit as many people as possible.

I also wasn't getting much sleep the whole time we were on vacation. To add to it, we chose to drive for the trip instead of fly. Not only did we drive the 40 hours one way, but we did it with very little stopping. That meant no hotels and only trying to catch a few zzz's while in the car. Now if you are tired enough... this isn't a problem... unless of course your kid keeps kicking the back of the seat. Yes, I have already been told that I was crazy! And on the way back, we were on crunch time. My husband had to be to work by Monday. I guess that goes to show - no rest for the weary.

On the Saturday after the wedding, I woke up and my throat felt a little scratchy. No alarms went off as I had spent the prior night singing at the top of my lungs and drinking a whole lot of beer. I played it off as being dehydrated. However, it didn't matter how much I tried to drink, the scratchy dry feeling would not go away.

On Sunday, it was worse. I was having a hard time swallowing anything. We stopped for breakfast and I really didn't have much of an appetite. That is when I looked in the mirror. My whole throat was covered in white dots and my tonsils were the size of golf balls. No wonder my throat was hurting! Needless to say - we still had another 16 hours left on the road - and my husband had to be to work by Monday.

We pulled into the house at 5:30 a.m. I drove majority of the night so my husband could get some rest. However, the longer into the night it went, the worse I got.

Needless to say, I don't remember much of the following two weeks. I did alot of sleeping. I went to Urgent Care. I went back to the doctor. And I got nothing done.

Falling victim of strep throat and tonsilitus really hurt my workouts. I have been sick before and have pushed through a workout, but not this time. This time I couldn't manage anything.

The lesson here - if your sick, you need your rest. Listen to your body and do only what you can. I went for a few walks, but I only pushed myself as hard as I thought I could handle. And if I pushed myself too hard, I was completely wiped out for the rest of the day... and this was when I thought I was starting to get better. Now I am not suggesting you can't do any workouts when you are sick, but you do need to be smart about it. Your body is already working hard trying to fight off your cold. Don't overdo it. But when you are done being sick, make sure you get back in to the habit. You might not feel as strong but eventually it will feel as if you never missed a beat.

Or you can be stubborn like me. I got antsy being unable to work out. So, I figured if the rest wasn't doing the trick, I was going to scare it away with one of my intense workouts. So I did Turbo Fire. I fluttered around completely uncoordinated; I even wanted to fall to the ground a few times. But, suddenly the next day, I felt better. So, maybe the cold had run it's course after two weeks, or maybe it is just scared of my intensity. Either way, it is good to be back to my workouts!

Yes - kids will do everything in their power to sabatoge your "get healthy" attitude. You may think this is cruel of me to say, but it is the truth. I am not saying they are doing it on purpose. But they will sneak in and distract you!

First off, working out with kids is a challenge. Sure, you can get a gym membership that will watch them while you work out. But that costs money and sometimes the money can't be sacrificed so the body is. Or maybe you are one of the lucky ones who have kids in school while you can stay home and do your workout. But if you have a normal 9-5 job, does that really matter. Probably not.

So what does this mean, just as your heart starts beating from your jumping jacks, you will here a "Mommy..." (or daddy) because at that precise moment they need something from you. Nevermind that they won't need anything the entire hour after your workout, and probably didn't need anything before your workout. Yet, the second you start working out, they will need something. It is a guarantee!

Most of my workouts are done without the kids around (because they are sleeping), but sometimes it is unavoidable. I have had my son jump on me during a yoga pose (not good for balance) and he has even run off with my weights. In addition, I have had to pause my workout to fill an empty cup and even to change a dirty diaper.

On a good note, nothing makes me happier than when my kids realize what I am doing. This is showing them that being healthy is a good thing. My daughters have occasionally tried to join me in some of my workouts. They have complained about how hard it is, but it has made them appreciate the effort it takes to be strong. We have had a lot of discussions about being healthy and the importance of moving your body. However we do not talk about weight loss. My daughters are going to be teenagers soon and I don't want them to have thoughts of being fat or self-esteem issues because of how serious I am with working out.

Kid's can also sabatoge your best intentions when it comes to eating healthy foods. I like to compare it to meatloaf (not that meatloaf is the best healthy choice to make!) Kid's have a tendency to push away what they might consider adult foods. It isn't that all kids will stick their tongue out at meatloaf; some might even admit to liking it. Yet, meatloaf is one of those things that seem to be better fit for a more mature taste palate. I will admit as a kid, I never asked for meatloaf!

That being said, what kid is gonna wanna, indulge in Salmon or some kind of Warm Potato and Edamame Salad. Heck, those don't even sound particularly mouth-watering to me! So you have a choice - make something healthy for you and a different meal the kids will eat; force your children to eat what you make whether they like it or not; or attempt to eat the meals you know they will enjoy.

For me, it is a toss up. I have taught my kids that not all healthy foods are bad and they are slowly adjusting their taste buds. They do eat chicken breast, a variety of vegetables and even some types of fish. However, we will still have spaghetti, hamburgers and hotdogs, or even pizza. These are meals that are high in calories (which means you have to watch your portions) and may not be the smartest choice is your trying to eat healthy!

Yet eating healthy can be expensive on the budget. Fresh fruits and vegetables can break the bank (especially if they aren't eaten in a timely matter and get tossed in the garbage.) Expensive choice cuts of meat are pricey and if the kids don't eat it, those to will get tossed in the garbage. So, while kids may sabatoge your healthy choices, you have to make a choice of what you are going to do. You can eat smaller portions and still have tacos with your family, or you can spend the extra money and cook yourself a different meal from your family. Personally, I don't want to make two separate meals... so I guess I am eating tacos and keeping my portions in check!

What? How could family and friends possibly be bad for you?

Well let me tell you...

When it comes to family, you don't necessarily have a choice. If they invite you over for dinner, they are going to cook whatever they want, and not eating it could be taken as rude. However, they might not be conscious of your attempt to be healthier. So pile on the chocolates and pile on the appetizers and pile on the alcohol.

The favorite family culprit - for me that has always been my Grandma. It didn't matter if we had just eaten, if we would go over there for a visit, she would try to feed us. You could deny the food forever, but she would just keep pushing. So finally, if you want to hear the end of it, you will finally start snacking.

Unfortunately, you can't do anything about your family. So, as a person trying to change bad habits, you can either be very open and vocal about your goals, or just do what you can when you visit to satisfy their need to feed you and your need to not overindulge. This might mean cutting back the portions or even bringing a dish to pass (something healthy like a fruit and veggie tray!) It might also mean doing an additional workout to make up for those additional calories!

Now I am not saying all family is bad when it comes to your goals. Some will even support you by offering healthier suggestions and understanding when you say no to the high-calorie dishes. They may also be a part of your support system. My husband is great at this. He encourages me to eat healthy and tells me how good I am doing on this journey.

Now for those friends....

Did you ever notice that your friends do what you do and you do what your friends do? Ok - so that may sound obvious. After all, it is probably one of the reason you are friends in the first place. It is a common interest.

But what if this common interest revolves around food? Or what if it revolves around alcohol? Chances are good that bad habits will rub off. If you get together and have a few drinks with a friend that could add up to several "empty" calories.

Now for a shot, calories will vary from drink to drink... but it will ranges from 55 calories to 100 calories or more. So, if you add that shot to a soda you will have an additional 140 calories (can of regular Coke). So for every drink you consume, you are downing almost 200 calories that do you absolutely no good! Now - how many drinks do you have when you are hanging out with friends. Just a few drinks could eat up half of your alloted calories for the day!

If your friends are sedentary, chances are likely that you won't be getting any kind of exercise when you are hanging out. This means those few extra drinks are not being burned off. Did you ever wonder why those beer guts start popping out? Think about it - binge drinking and no activity.

Now I am not saying you have to give up your friends if this is something you relate to. However, if your friends are like this, you are going to have to work specially hard to work off the extra calories and junk food.

The other option is to hang out with others who have similiar goals as you. Join walking groups or find people who enjoy sports and other activities to help you burn calories. It isn't that you need to give up old friends, but finding new friends with similiar motivations will give you a great support system.

This video has some great thoughts on sabotaging yourself, however, the author, Barbergirl28, does not endorse any products promoted.

Achieving a Successful Workout Plan - Are you ready to take the first step in "Getting Healthy?" This hub is full of information on how to get there and be successful!

Sneaky Subliminal Messages - Subliminal Messages are everywhere. They might even be sabatoging any "Get Healthy Goals" you might have set for yourself. To learn more about sneaky subliminal messages, be sure to check out this informative hub!

Sure, the other 4 reasons are easy. That means you don't have to take responsibility for falling off the "Get Healthy" wagon. But really, what are those other "Sabatogers?" They are nothing more than an excuse. And you are the only one that can give it.

Yes - When it comes to your "Get Healthy" groove, you are ultimately the only one that can push it away. It is up to you to get up and do what you have to do. You will be the person benefiting from getting healthier. Sure, your family and friends will notice the differance and some may even join you on your journey as you are an inspiration to them. In the long run, being healthier means you have a higher chance of being around for awhile, whether it is for your spouse or for your kids.

According to Tynan Slade in "How Many People Die From Obesity Each Year? - Shockingly Hundreds Per Day!", obesity related illness claim 850 lives a day and more than 300,000 lives a year.

Considering this is an average and the number is going up at an alarming rate - it is just mind boggling! Now do you want to be part of these statistics?

Yes, that is right! It is a scare tactic and I hope it got you thinking. Because when it comes down to it, you are your own worst enemy. It is up to you to keep working out, eating healthy, and making positive changes in your life.

Vacations - may stunt your progress - but you can always center a vacation around doing some kind of phyiscal activity. And no vacation requires you to overeat until you feel miserable!

Illness - everybody will occasionally get sick, but the healthier you are, the less likely you are to come down with a cold.

Kids - This is a prime opportunity for you to show them the right direction. Childhood obesity is on the rise, and frankly there is no reason for it. Get the kids away from the video games and computers and the TV... they should be outside playing. That was what I did as a kid!

Family and Friends - While you can't choose your family, you can choose your friends! Frankly, if your friends aren't supportive of your healthy lifestyle, they really aren't true friends in the first place. I am not suggesting you have to convert everybody or that you even have to give up your social group, but they should at least respect your decision.

So what does that leave you with - YOU - and you are the only one that can get in the way of getting healthy?

So what are you still doing here? Leave a comment, share your story and get going. America is in an Obesity Epidemic and we can change it... one person at a time!

BeachBody has been a key to my success in this whole journey. It has not only strengthened my body, but it has strengthened my mind as well. It made me realize not only did I want to change my life, but I want to help others that have been struggling as well. I know what you are going through! I have tried the fad diets; I have tried the magic pills! I know how frustrating it can be when you don't see the results you are hoping for. So I became a BeachBody coach. If you are interested in the products I have used, or just looking for a support system, feel free to check out my page by clicking here.