Health & Fitness
New Years Resolutions Disappoint...Let's Try Something New
Most Americans set a New Years Resolution and do not fulfill it. Here are some tips on achieving those 2012 goals.
I am Norcross Patch's newest blogger. My name is Nicholas Jacobs, owner of Sweat Atlanta right here in Norcross and I am excited to be sharing my passion for healthy and wellness with the visitors to Norcross Patch. First up...those dreaded New Year Resolutions.
It was reported that nearly 50 percent of all American's will make a New Years Resolution and of that 50 percent only one quarter will maintain that after 6 months. The most common resolution this year will be weight loss.
Resolutions are great in theory, set a goal for the new year, change your life, look like a supermodel, ride off in the sunset, happily ever after blah blah blah. Although the concept is great most of us find it hard to continue what we were so excited about on January 1st. Visit any local gym during the month of January and you will see the treadmills full, the classes packed and an energy felt in the room that is felt no other time. Fast forward to February 1st (ok maybe even January 20th) and many of those people who visited the gym for the first in early January are no where to be seen.
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So why is it so hard for us to maintain these resolutions? Here are some tips for coming up with a healthy resolution that will stick and lead to a more healthy lifestyle for years to come:
1. Limit your promises: It probably isn't realistic to decide you are going to resolve your debt, lose 100 lbs and stop smoking all at once. Choose one or two realistic goals that you can focus on and achieve.
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2. Tell people: Talk to your friends and loved ones about your goals so they can hold you accountable, or just bug you about it a lot.
3. Reward yourself: At the end of each successful month set a "reward" for yourself. If you followed through with your goal that month than allow yourself that reward. Now listen people that reward doesn't mean a huge piece of cake when your resolution is to lose weight but instead treat yourself to a massage, buy yourself a book you've been wanting, or go to a show with some friends.
4. Choose small obtainable goals: Resolving to look like a supermodel when your looking more like you've been eating too many things supersized is not realistic. Set realistic goals for yourself. That may be to lose 5 lbs a month or to get a minimum of 30 minutes or cardiovascular exercise in at least 3 days a week.
5. Create a game plan: You wouldn't start a new business without a business plan so the same should apply to your resolution. Come up with a strategy for how you are going to achieve your goal. Include a time line for each item and listed and reference this plan throughout the year. Breaking it down into small pieces makes it less intimidating and will tremendously improve your chances of conquering your resolution.
Some of what I mentioned you may have heard before, hopefully you picked up a thing or two that you had not heard before. If you take your health seriously and want to maintain the body your in a resolution can be a great way to do that. If you don't think you can do it on your own don't be afraid to reach out for help. My company Sweat Atlanta has the absolute best trainers in town. We are mobile and well trained so achieving those goals will be a team effort for us.
I am excited to be sharing my expertise in fitness with you all. Feel free to come try out my SWEAT ATLANTA BOOTCAMPS each Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Norcross. Until it get's too cold we are currently at Lillian Webb Park and if you are a Patch Reader your first session is FREE!
