| The New Year is quickly creeping up on us. Do you | | | | own personal plan and you'll be more likely to |
| have a New Year's Resolution? Well, if you're like | | | | succeed as well. |
| most Americans (88 percent in 2001 according to a | | | | - Break it down and make it less intimidating. Rather |
| General Nutrition Centers poll), you have at least one | | | | than one BIG end goal, dissect it into smaller pieces. |
| resolution. And, if you are like the majority of these | | | | Set several smaller goals to achieve throughout the |
| promise-makers, your resolution is probably related to | | | | year that will help you to reach the ultimate goal. |
| health and fitness. In 2001 (according to GNC), 55 | | | | Then even if you aren't able to reach your final goal, |
| percent promised to eat healthier, 50 percent | | | | you will have many smaller, but still significant, |
| resolved to exercise more, and 38 percent wanted | | | | achievements along the way. For example, if your |
| to lose weight. | | | | goal is to complete a 10K race, your smaller goals |
| While resolutions are well-intentioned, unfortunately | | | | could be running a 5K in less than 30 minutes, adding |
| most people fail at keeping them. With all the hype | | | | upper and lower body strength training to increase |
| surrounding these promises, it's easy to get caught | | | | your muscular endurance, and running 2 miles with a |
| up in them without really taking them seriously. | | | | personal best completion time. |
| We live in a throw-away society and even our | | | | - Ask friends and family members to help you so you |
| resolutions, I'm afraid, are not immune. However, | | | | have someone to be accountable to. Just be sure to |
| especially for promises that include improving our | | | | set limits so that this doesn't backfire and become |
| health it's in our best interest to not take them lightly. | | | | more irritating than helpful. For example, if you |
| So, what's the secret to successful resolutions? While | | | | resolve to be more positive ask them to gently |
| you can't wave a magic wand and make your | | | | remind you when you start talking negatively. |
| resolution come true, there are some easy steps to | | | | - Reward yourself with each milestone. If you've |
| take to make it easier to fulfill your promise to | | | | stuck with your resolution for 2 months, treat |
| yourself. | | | | yourself to something special. But, be careful of your |
| - Choose an obtainable goal. Resolving to look like a | | | | reward type. If you've lost 5 pounds, don't give |
| super model is not realistic for the majority of us, but | | | | yourself a piece of cake as an award. Instead, treat |
| promising to include daily physical activity in our lives is | | | | yourself to a something non-food related, like a |
| very possible. | | | | professional massage. |
| - Avoid choosing a resolution that you've been | | | | - Don't go it alone! Get professional assistance. |
| unsuccessful at achieving year after year. This will | | | | Everyone needs help and sometimes a friend just |
| only set you up for failure, frustration and | | | | isn't enough. Sometimes you need the help of a |
| disappointment. If you are still tempted to make a | | | | trained professional. Don't feel that seeking help is a |
| promise that you've made before, then try altering it. | | | | way of copping out. Especially when it comes to |
| For example, instead of stating that you are going to | | | | fitness, research studies have shown that assistance |
| lose 30 pounds, try promising to eat healthier and | | | | from a fitness professional greatly improves peoples |
| increase your weekly exercise. | | | | success rate. |
| - Create a game plan. At the beginning of January, | | | | - Limit your number of promises. You'll spread |
| write a comprehensive plan. All successful businesses | | | | yourself too thin trying to make multiple changes in |
| start with a business plan that describes their mission | | | | your life. This will just lead to failure of all of the |
| and specifics on how they will achieve it. Write your | | | | resolutions. |