New Year's Resolutions: How to Make them and Keep Them

Three Steps to Make and Keep your New Year’s Fitness Resolutions.

You may be one of the thousands of people who will make New Year’s Resolutions to improve your health: losing weight, getting in shape, and quitting smoking always rank among the top ten resolutions. Here are three suggestions for making real changes this year:

1. Have a specific, realistic goal:

“I want to lose weight.” Sounds great, but it’s vague and it probably won’t get you anywhere. Try something more specific, like “I will lose 25 lb in three months”—now we’re talking! That’s about 8 pounds a month—a very reasonable goal.

“I want to exercise more.” OK, once again the goal is too vague. How about this: “I will join a gym and work out three times a week.” Once again there’s a realistic, attainable goal.

2. Get informed

People often fail in their fitness goals because they don’t start off with a good game plan. If you want to change your body, feed your mind first! Invest in a solid diet and training program (like the ebooks I promote here on my blog). Spend a few hours studying to learn what it takes to change your body.
This will also give you motivation—you’ll start believing it is possible instead of making a half-hearted attempt at fitness.

3. Join a “Fight Club”

I don’t mean you have to start an underground MMA cult. Here’s what I’m saying: why not get some help and support in fighting the flab? Hire a personal trainer if you can afford it. Or get a couple of friends to join you in your fitness quest—real friends that will give you an encouraging word (or kick in the pants if necessary). In short, don’t try to do it alone.

I hope these tips will help you have a healthy new year!