Make
Your New Year's Fitness Resolution Stick
By
Lynn Bode
If you are like most North Americans, you made
at least one New Year's resolution. And, if
you are like the majority of these promise-makers,
at least one resolution is probably related
to health and fitness. In a recent study of
New Year's resolutions, 55 percent promised
to eat healthier, 50 percent resolved to exercise
more, and 38 percent wanted to lose weight.
While resolutions are well-intentioned, unfortunately
most people fail at keeping them. With all the
hype surrounding these promises, it's easy to
get caught up in the hype without taking them
seriously.
So, what is the secret to successful resolutions?
While you can't wave a magic wand and make your
resolution come true, there are some easy steps
to take that will make it easier to fulfill
your promise to yourself.
Choose an obtainable goal.
Resolving to look like a super model is not
realistic for the majority of us, but promising
to include daily physical activity in our lives
is very possible.
Avoid choosing a resolution that you've
been unsuccessful at achieving year after year.
This will only set you up for failure, frustration
and disappointment. If you are still tempted
to make a promise that you've made before, try
altering it. For example, instead of stating
that you are going to lose 30 pounds, try promising
to eat healthier and increase your weekly exercise.
Create a game plan.
At the beginning of January, write a comprehensive
plan. All successful businesses start with a
business plan that describes their mission and
specifics on how they will achieve it. Write
your own personal plan and you'll be more likely
to succeed as well.
Break it down and make it less intimidating.
Rather than one BIG end goal, dissect it into
smaller pieces. Set several smaller goals to
achieve throughout the year that will help you
reach the ultimate goal. Then, even if you are
unable to reach your final goal, you will have
many smaller, but still significant, achievements
along the way.
For example, if your goal is to complete a
10K race, your smaller goals could be running
a 5K in less than 30 minutes, adding upper and
lower body strength training to increase your
muscular endurance, and running 2 miles with
a personal best completion time.
Ask friends and family members to help you
so you have someone to be accountable to.
Just be sure to set limits so that this doesn't
backfire and become more irritating than helpful.
For example, if you resolve to be more positive
ask them to gently remind you when you start
talking negatively.
Reward yourself with each milestone.
If you've stuck with your resolution for 2 months,
treat yourself to something special. But, be
careful of your reward type. If you've lost
5 pounds, don't give yourself a piece of cake
as an award. Instead, treat yourself to something
non-food related, like a professional massage.
Don't go it alone!
Get professional assistance. Everyone needs
help and sometimes a friend just isn't enough.
Sometimes you need the help of a trained professional.
Don't feel that seeking help is a way of copping
out. Especially when it comes to fitness, research
studies have shown that assistance from a fitness
professional greatly improves people's success
rate.
Limit your number of promises.
You'll spread yourself too thin trying to make
multiple changes in your life. This will just
lead to failure of all of the resolutions.
On average, only about 20% of us keep our New
Year's resolutions. Unfortunately, some of the
biggest failures are found in fitness resolutions.
But don't let the statistics get you down. By
following the tips in this article you'll equip
yourself for success.
About the author: Lynn Bode is a
certified personal trainer specializing in Internet-based
fitness programs. She founded Workouts For You,
which provides affordable online exercise programs
that are custom designed for each individual.
Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com
for a free sample workout. Fitness professionals
take your business online, visit: http://www.trainerforce.com
