Sunday marked the start of 2012. Making a resolution is a centuries-old tradition shared all over the world, and chances are that on Sunday you made a promise to yourself to feel good about a fresh start and to tackle some type of goal this year. One of the most popular resolutions year after year is the promise to lose weight and get healthy. This year vow to get it done. Don’t settle for that double chin, inflated waist size or the general fatigue you suffer from carrying around excess weight. In 2012, do something about it.
You need a goal, but I am not talking about a simple “lose 10 pounds” kind of plan. I am talking about something deeper — and for this you may need to do some soul searching. Be as specific as possible when formulating this year’s goal. Break out the pen and paper and write it down. If your resolution is the same one you made last year, and the year before (or even for the last 10 years), think about why you have failed in the past. Identify all the reasons you have yet to meet success and write them down. If this year’s resolution is brand new, identify the obstacles ahead and start to develop a plan to attack them. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking and planning.
Also, sometimes by sharing your resolution with friends and family, you gain an instant safety net, a support system to help hold yourself accountable. Journaling along the way is another great way to gain insight into habits, patterns of behavior, the things you’re doing right and sometimes pitfalls. Once you have identified your goal and given it some good consideration, prioritize the steps you plan to take to reach your goal. Start with baby steps, and work your way to sprints, figuratively or literally.
Next, solicit some professional advice. Chances are that the resolution you have made this year about losing weight, getting stronger, faster, better, etc. has led you to join a fitness facility or lead you back the gym you’ve had a membership at for months but haven’t necessarily been faithful to visiting. Interview the trainers at your new or old gym by setting up appointments with them to ask them questions. Find out what their fitness philosophy is, find out what they specialize in, and find out how long they have been a trainer or where they have worked before. Ask them if they have ever had success in a situation as specific as yours. Don’t be afraid to be discerning — not all trainers are created equal. There are no stupid questions. Find a trainer you mesh well with; someone you believe in will guide you to reaching your goal. The proper tools and guidance will make all the difference.
Stay committed and keep motivated. Anyone can be fit, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. There is no controversy on what works but there is a lot of confusion, contradiction and improper interpretations of the facts out there. Leave behind the quick fixes, the gimmicky diets, the trendy fitness machines and those terrible infomercials that promise you results in five minutes, 10 days or one month. This will be a lifestyle change. Start small, give your body time to adjust to your new regimen or nutritional strategies and remember that patience is a virtue. It’s time to execute, re-invent and stage the biggest comeback of your life.
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