Thoughts for the New Year - Resolution, anyone?
Jan 02, 2017
As we begin 2017, I am sure that many of us are making resolutions. Most goals probably have something to do with diet and/or exercise. But before you make those resolutions, consider the statistics. According to www.statisticbrain.com, 45% of people usually make new years resolutions and, of those, 8% succeed at keeping their resolution, 49% infrequently keep them, 24% never succeed and fail at keeping them. The interesting point is this, "People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't explicitly make resolutions.". Did you get that? In other words, those who set goals are more likely to achieve what they want in life.
In order to get where you want to go, you have to set a goal, chart a course, show up every day, move in that direction and KEEP GOING!
Have you made a resolution? Whether you have, or not, keep reading for some guidance and encouragement from someone who has helped people go from couch to marathon and, for a short while, coached people through a change in eating habits in order to lose weight.
1. As with goal setting, make your resolution specific. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, how much do you want to lose? How are you going to lose it? What will success look like for you - a loss of 10 lbs., 20, 30?
2. What will it take to reach your goal/keep your resolution? Are you willing to do what it takes? Be honest. Look at it realistically and set yourself an attainable, doable goal. Warning, I'm approaching my soap box...
If you are going to use a protein diet to lose weight, go into it with your eyes WIDE OPEN. I am a believer in protein diets, IF AND ONLY IF, you plan to change your diet forever. IF, you are going to use phase 1 for weight loss and then move into maintenance, adopting a balanced, low carb, high fat (healthy ones) diet. If you don't, and you go back to the way you were eating, you will probably regain the weight. The commitment to a healthy diet is big and it is not always easy. BUT, it is worth it. Think long and hard before you begin a diet regimen. Use it to change your diet FOR GOOD. Seek balance in your diet. Find the foods that work and don't work for you. Work on your relationship with food.
Ok, I'm done, for now.
3. If your resolution is open ended and general, break it down into smaller goals or steps. If your goal is to be more organized or to clear out the clutter, assign yourself some actionable steps:
- spend 10 minutes a day working on clutter (set a timer)
- collect a bag each week to throw away, sell or give away
4. Reward yourself. Come up with a reward at the end that you can work towards all year, or every few months. If you are want to start running or walking, register for a destination and build a trip around completing your goal.
Be intentional with your resolution and set yourself up for success by following these steps. Make it easier to accomplish your goals by giving them some thought and then set up actionable steps to take to get you there.
You can do it, I know you can!
Do you have a goal for the new year? If so, I'd love to hear about it and how you are going to achieve it! Can I help? Let me know!
May you face the new year with a smile on your face and your shoes laced up!
Let's go!
Robin Simpson
Co-Director of Marathon Makeover
Encouraging and helping YOU live YOUR life! Click HERE to like us on Facebook!
