A new year presents us with an opportunity to start new and fresh. Many people will ask you, "What is your New Year's resolution?" What will your response be this year? One of the most common resolutions is some form of being healthier. Losing weight, quitting smoking, eating healthier and so on. All of these are great resolutions that will help you live a longer, healthier life. The problem becomes that many people set the same resolution year after year without much success. Here are some tips on how to set a great New Year's resolution and stick with it.
Be Realistic
Try to avoid goals that are totally unrealistic or counter productive. For example, trying to lose seven pounds a week like they do on The Biggest Loser is probably not realistic for you (or anyone). Do you have a spare six hours a day to work out? Also, setting extreme goals can be unhealthy. Severe calorie restrictions can have counter productive results causing more harm than good. Remember to be realistic and set goals that fit into your schedule and are manageable long term. This being said, you will likely have to make some changes to your schedule and modifications to your lifestyle but being healthy shouldn't mean giving up everything and everyone in your life.
Don't Be Afraid to Modify
Once you have set some goals and started your resolution, don't be afraid to make some modifications. Maybe when you set your goals, you forgot about that extra dance class you enrolled your daughter in or that trip to the mountains that you had planned. Now making it to the gym seven days a week is impossible. That doesn't mean that you need to throw your whole resolution out the window. As you get started, remember it is OK to realize that you need to make some modifications. We are human and we make mistakes or slip up from time to time. Learning from our mistakes is what helps us grow as people. Notice your mistakes and make adjustments to your plan accordingly.
Make It Measureable
Stating "this year I'm going to lose weight" is great! But ... how much weight? How will you know when you have reached your goal? If you lose two pounds in the first week are you done? Make sure your goals are measureable. "I am going to lose 20 pounds by the end of March" is a much more measureable resolution.
Make A Plan
When we fail to plan, we plan to fail. Remember to follow up that resolution with a plan of how you are going to execute it. Focus of behavioural changes rather than the goal itself. Also, remember to reward yourself when you reach goals, even if they are small ones.
Set your long terms goals first then break them down into smaller, more manageable goals. Then devise a plan of how to reach them.
For Example:
Long Term Goal - I'm going to lose 60 pounds in 2011.
Short Term Goal - I'm going to lose five pounds a month or one to two pounds a week.
Plan - I have booked an appointment with a personal trainer Jan. 3. I will have her set me up with a workout and diet plan. I will book follow up appointments with her once a month to evaluate my progress and be weighed and measured. This monthly appointment will help me stay accountable and on track with my goals.
It is important to get help where you need it, even if you need help setting goals for yourself. As a personal trainer, I am trained in helping people set realistic, measureable and safe goals. I wish you the best with your New Year's resolution this year. Have a happy, healthy new year and I look forward to seeing you in 2011. Make this your year!
Say it! Mean it! Do it!
