Now that 2016 is here, are you ready to make it successful? We all know that every year people make the New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and get healthy. People join gyms, buy Fitbits, order programs and are often “gung-ho” with their resolutions. Yet, somewhere in the middle, life happens. They start going to the gym less, the Fitbits lay uncharged on the counter and the programs that were ordered gather dust on the shelf. In order to help this not be your story in the new year, here are some key things that you can do to be more successful:
1.Set a goal. By setting goals, you will set a direction for yourself. Be specific with your goals. If you want to lose weight, then set a goal weight. If you want to start running, then set a distance goal or an amount of time to run each day. The key in setting goals is not only to be specific, but also to be realistic. If you want to lose weight, your goal weight should be realistic for your height and body structure. If you are just starting to run, setting a goal of a marathon in 3 months is not likely to be a good choice. After you have written down some realistic goals, put them in a place where you can see them every day — by the bathroom mirror, on the dashboard of your car, or by your front door. Seeing your goals written out on a daily basis will remind you to stay the course and help cue your behavior. 2. Make a plan. You can set goals all day every day but unless you have a plan to get to that goal, they will just be words on your paper. This is the piece that a lot of people miss. They set a goal and may even write them down, but they do not make a clear plan to get to that goal. If your goal is to lose a certain amount of weight, how will you accomplish that? Will you join a gym and if so, will you take aerobics classes, lift weights, or walk on the treadmill? Will you start by walking around the neighborhood or local track? Write your plan out. It gives you a clear picture of what it will take to meet your goal. Now that you have the plan, make sure you put your plan in your calendar and follow it.
3. Find someone to hold you accountable. If you are one of the few that is self-motivated then you can skip ahead. If you are like me, you have days when working out can be the last thing on your mind. You try to schedule your workout, but life happens and your plan gets derailed. If this happens over and over, you may eventually give up. When I have that down day or I get off track on my nutrition, I have friends that check in and keep me accountable. They motivate me and help me focus on my goal. I have also joined several groups that are a great resource for information, another accountability factor, and challenge me to push harder. We post pictures, add motivation memes, and encourage one another. We are a community of people that come from all different backgrounds that have a desire to live healthy and fit. This has been the biggest factor in aiding me over time to eat healthy and lose weight.
4. Evaluate. Once you have the above pieces in place, evaluate if what you are doing is 
working. If you go 3 months and notice that something is not working, then consider a new plan or maybe a new goal. Health and fitness is a journey. What works for one person, may not work for you. Be open to trying new things. You may find that trying something new may be exactly what you need. If you hit a plateau or “the wall” as some people refer to it, changing your workout or plan may be exactly what you need to break through. The biggest thing is DON’T GIVE UP!
working. If you go 3 months and notice that something is not working, then consider a new plan or maybe a new goal. Health and fitness is a journey. What works for one person, may not work for you. Be open to trying new things. You may find that trying something new may be exactly what you need. If you hit a plateau or “the wall” as some people refer to it, changing your workout or plan may be exactly what you need to break through. The biggest thing is DON’T GIVE UP! The new year is a chance to start something new, but once you start, don’t stop. The phrase that sticks in my head is “if you are tired of starting over, stop giving up.” Take these tips and challenge yourself in this new year. It will take work, but you can be successful in reaching your goal. If you need someone to be your accountability partner, I would love to work with you. Send me an email and we can get you started on your fit journey. Have an amazing year!
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