HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The New Year for many of us often symbolizes a new beginning, a chance for a fresh start. This is the time we forget about the past and look forward to the future. We set new life goals and revisit those we may have fallen short on accomplishing last year. At this time of the year we call them New Year’s Resolutions (even though I’ve never heard of an Old Year’s Resolution or a End of Year Resolution. Just a side note). There are some who scoff at New Year’s resolutions for their own reasons. I personally think New Year’s resolutions are a great thing.

There are several definitions for the word resolution. Here is the one I feel is the most appropriate for this topic. Resolution - a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

Goals and resolutions are great things. They can help keep us focused. Plus, we feel a sense of accomplishment once a goal is reached. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum is the feeling of failure when we fall short of that goal. The most important question is this, Why do we fall short? Why do some new year’s resolutions fail so soon after we make them? I’m sure there are lots of reasons and even more excuses why, but here is one of the most important reasons why resolutions fail. THEY ARE NOT REALISTIC.

Setting a realistic goal is a key component to accomplishing a goal. By setting an unrealistic or overly ambitiousgoal you are subconsciously setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. New year’s resolutions are meant to be attainable. They are supposed to be challenging but not impossible. If you have a gym membership now and went to the gym today you probably noticed that it was packed! There were probably twice as many people there than there was just last Monday or two Mondays ago. Gym’s love January, their membership sales sky rocket this month because droves of people have made the New Year’s resolution to be healthier. Which is awesome!!

Realistic goal setting is important to maintaining motivation. If you are overweight, setting a goal to lose 30 pounds by March 1^st is not a realistic goal, especially if you are new to fitness or have been sedentary for more than 6-12 months. Instead set smaller goals that lead you to your supreme goal of 30 pounds. Make your goal to lose 2 pounds of fat this week (by the way, the scale is not your friend but that’s a topic for another day). That would be realistic and attainable.

Haven’t been to the gym in a while? Making a resolution to go to the gym or exercise 6 days a week is probably not a realistic goal. You will burn out quickly feel what I like to call "Resolution Remorse". Even some of the hardest gym rats don’t work out 6 days a week. Make your goal to do some type of physical activity 3-5 days a week. Notice I said physical activity and not workout or exercise. There are plenty of ways to be physically active without stepping foot inside a gym.

I’m going on a “diet”. No more junk food for me! Sound familiar? Eliminating all junk food, bread, or sugar is an unrealistic goal, especially long term, and especially if you currently eat a lot of the aforementioned foods. Cutting them out completely will lead to the crash and burn of your “diet”.By the way, I despise the word diet. In the coming weeks I will explain why "diet" is a horrible word.

Losing weight and getting healthier are long term and ongoing tasks. There is no quick fix or fast solution. Getting healthy takes considerably more effort than staying healthy. Remember that as you set your goals and begin your quest to healthier and more fit life. Stick with it. It may be hard now but the results will be awesome!

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Next week’s topic: THE SCALE

Thanks for reading!

Your Friend,

RJ