(ThyBlackMan.com) As 2015 winds to a close, millions of people across the country are looking ahead to 2016 with notions of better health, more money and maybe falling in love. But, according to Psychology Today, up to eighty percent of people will leave their resolutions behind by February of the New Year. If you want a better, stronger body in the New Year, don’t make a resolution, but rather commit yourself to developing stronger habits.
Behind every successful resolution is a strong habit. Ovid, the Roman poet, said it succinctly, Nothing is stronger than a habit.
Although the following seven habits should not be construed as a workout regimen, you can build a strong, healthy body for the New Year by incorporating these habits into your lifestyle.
Habit#1
Shop the Perimeter versus the Center
The struggle to overcome the addiction to food begins with forming this habit. Spend more time on the perimeter of a grocery store than in the center. Generally, the more healthy items such as meats, produce and dairy will be located on the perimeter, while the bad stuff is often stocked in the center. Also, limit the amount of time you are in a grocery store. This may sound counter-intuitive. Taking your time in a grocery only allows you more time to make more unhealthy choices. Make out a grocery list before you go shopping. Get in, stick with the list and get out!
Habit#2
Eat a Head of Cabbage at Least Once a Month
Cabbage is a natural and very effective cleanser. Plus, it provides a healthy defense against diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Make a commitment to boil a head of cabbage for no more than 15 minutes (it should be crunchy) without any additives such as salt or pork. Eat the cabbage over a weekend with 1-2 ounces of a lean meat and a gallon of water. You will feel lighter, more energetic and you will experience a greater degree of well-being.
Habit#3
Sweat at Least Once Per Day
Whether it’s walking the stairs at lunch or embarking on a power walk after work, get your heart rate up and keep it at seventy to eighty percent of your maximum heart rate. Other activities could include rowing, cycling or dancing. Generally, if you keep your heart rate up for 20 to 25 minutes while performing an activity, your body will generate sweat as a cooling mechanism. The point is to get up and move!
Habit#4
Use your Body as a Dumbbell
The best dumbbell in the world is your own bodyweight. Learn to control your bodyweight and you can control any resistance. 
Perform squats, planks and pushups on a daily basis. Do them in circuits. Rest about 40 seconds and repeat. Team these exercises with power walking or stair climbing and you have the perfect recipe for a strong body.
Habit#5
Eat Less More Often
Portion control is just about everyone’s weakness. We often lose our battle with food at the dinner plate – the amount of food we pile on. A rule of thumb is eat less more often. Aim for five to six healthy snacks per day. Remember, to the body, an apple is a meal. Every two to three hours put something in your body.
Habit#6
Exercise During Commercial Breaks
Becoming glued to the television is in and of itself a bad habit. One good way to break free of it is to do strategic workouts. During commercial breaks of your favorite program perform a set of squats or, even better, do a plank and try to hold it for the length of the commercial break. Your body will thank you for it!
Habit#7
Breathe Deeply
Finally, the last best habit has to do with your mental and spiritual energy, which is controlled by your breathing. Studies have demonstrated that consciously taking deep breaths throughout the day increases energy, reduces stress and also drops blood pressure. Breathe in deeply through your nose while your stomach expands and then slowly release the breath through your mouth as your stomach contracts. Breathing is powerful!
Behind every successful resolution is a strong habit.
Staff Writer; W. Eric Croomes
This talented brother is a holistic lifestyle exercise expert and founder and executive coach of Infinite Strategies LLC, a multi-level coaching firm that develops and executes strategies for fitness training, youth achievement and lifestyle management. Eric is an author, fitness professional, holistic life coach and motivational speaker.
In October 2015, Eric released Life’s A Gym: Seven Fitness Principles to Get the Best of Both, which shows readers how to use exercise to attract a feeling of wellness, success and freedom (Infinite Strategies Coaching LLC, 2015) – http://www.infinitefitnesscoaching.com.
