No Thanks to New Year Resolutions

I never do New Year Resolutions.  It just doesn't make sense to me.  Shouldn't you be setting goals for yourself throughout the year?  Life is about constantly challenging yourself.  Why wait for the New Year? I think people just set themselves up to fail by doing that. 

The gym was PACKED this morning.  I looked around and saw so many new faces.  I am sure by February-March I will see only a handful of those new faces.  It happens every year.  People make their New Year resolution to get healthy or workout.  They go gang buster at the gym  right after New Year's Day (because why would they start on New Year's Day, hungover?) and they get discouraged because they expect results after a couple of weeks or they get bored.  Another year the resolution is thrown out the door quickly.

I want to make a disclaimer.  You know I am all for people getting healthy and fit.  So I'm not saying people shouldn't get motivated to do that.  But I think people don't do the right research or preparation to make themselves successful. 

Statistics show that getting healthy, getting fit and losing weight are some of the top ten resolutions.  Statistics also show that only 8% actually achieve their resolution goals.  You read that right 8%.  And only 64%  last longer than a month.

This is what I have found that works to meet  goals when focusing on health and fitness:
1. Research--I read a lot of fitness and health magazines.  I research new receipes. I make sure the workouts I do are the best for me.  Knowledge is power.

2. Get help--If you aren't self motivated, work with a trainer.  Meet with a nutritionist.  This will help you stay focuses.  I am self motivated but use both to help me stay on task.

3. Find exercise you like--If you hate using the treadmill, don't!  Try different fitness classes at the gym.  Or go to a yoga, pilates or boxing studio.  Most of the time they will let you try a class for free or at a discounted rate.  You need to find what will motivate you to workout every day.  I love spin class and boxing. Both are high intensity workouts, with pumping music.  But I also do my own workouts.  I hate using the treadmill so I never do.  I alternate days for what workout I do to keep things interesting.

4. Stop making excuses-- It's so easy to make excuses.  I'm to busy to work out; I had to eat at the fast food restaurant because it was quick; I'm to tired to workout after work; I'm too old or I have health issues.....I'm calling BULLSHIT on all those excuses.  Too busy to workout but you found time to relax on the couch  watching tv or spending wasteless time on Facebook?  You had to eat fast food--How about preparing meals ahead of time so you don't make that excuse or get a salad or sandwich at Subway.  Too tired to workout after work?  Workout before work.  Or just go...you will find that once you get to the gym, you aren't so tired anymore. Too old or sick?  I have a 68 year old man in my spin class that is at the gym everyday I am there (6 days a week).  Sick? I know people at the gym who have MS, arthritis, lupus and who are going through chemo.  Bottom line, exercise is good for everyone and make symptoms for a lot less severe.

5. Believe in yourself.  Believe that you can lose weight.  Believe you can get fit.  Everyone can. Stop the excuses.

Love this...