What was your New Year’s resolution in 2012? Was it to purchase a new home, get a new car, or make a career change? Perhaps it was to improve your health, to eat better, or to get fit. Do you even remember? Year after year, we come up with lofty resolutions. While some of us commit to these pledges, most of us give up on our personal declarations within weeks. Admittedly, last year my resolution was to work out and tone enough to be wear leather shorts in the summer .. LOL .. Don’t ask!
Health, better nutrition, and fitness are three resolution options we often declare at the beginning of the year. However, since we are entangled with day-to-day activities spanning across our professional and personal lives, we rarely stick to a diet or find time to go to the gym religiously.
So, what was your New Year’s resolution for 2013? Was it to get your abs shredded up so you can grate cheese on them? Or maybe it was to be bathing suit ready at all times? Here are some of the top 5 Workout Resolutions I’ve overheard while doing my own 5am workouts …. and my top ways to KEEP Your New Year’s Resolutions beyond February…
Top 5 Workout Resolutions …
1) Loose weight overall
2) Get my glutes toned
3) Tone my arms
4) Get a six pack or sleek sexy belly
5) Increase my flexibility
Top 10 Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions
1) Have a strong commitment to make a change
2) Make your goals realistic .. .SMALL steps you can manage
3) Keep track of your progress. The more monitoring and feedback, the better your outcome
4) Do the program with a partner, to increase support and your chances of success
5) Avoid making ABSOLUTE statements and setting goals based upon these: such as… I will never do X again.
6) Avoid NEGATIVE self-talk
7) Take credit in your successes, no matter how small – Reward yourself!
8) Give yourself a break! Don’t blame yourself for mistakes.
9) View setbacks as lessons for growth …explore what kept you from achieving your goal and make corrections
10) Develop coping strategies to deal with problems or STRESS that may arise
11) Remember this is a gradual process – Start low and go slow
12) Add a spiritual dimension to your goals … reach and draw strength from your faith
Most importantly ENJOY your new commitment to live healthy and happy. We’re building healthy habits for a lifetime.
Wishing you great health,
Dr. V