So another year is drawing to a close and no doubt last years New Years Resolutions are a distant memory.
So looking ahead most people's New Years Resolution normally includes something to do with making them a healthier person...whether that is losing weight, bulking up, drinking more water, reducing alcohol intake, quitting smoking or walking more... and every New Year's Eve you hear the same old "No I really mean it this time".
So how do you do it? How do you step into the world of health and fitness and make it stick this time?
Now I don't believe in fads and that fitness is just something you do for a short period of time and then return to your old habits. Health and Fitness is something that will be apart of your life... forever. So if you're already thinking that Health and Fitness is just a temporary thing in your life then I'm afraid your wrong and you're already setting yourself up for failure.
Your health is your no 1 priority in life, it comes before money, family, friends and education. It's not being selfish, self centred, vain or egotistical, it's called taking responsibly of yourself, do not feel guilty that you are putting your health before anything else.
That may sound blunt but if you don't have health you don't have anything. HEALTH IS WEALTH.
I rely on a good old LIST and a plan, a want is just a wish until you have a plan in place. Writing your New Years Resolution down means more chance you're going to stick to it.
Start off with a list of reasons WHY you want to do something. Do you feel uncomfortable in clothes? Want to lose weight to fit into that dress again? Want to increase your fitness? Want to be able to play with the kids, improve your golf?
Now write down HOW you are going to do it. Are you going to seek expert help? Will you do it on your own or with a friend? Will you join a gym and make a training plan? You will need support around you with family & friends who are supportive of your choice, wants and needs. You will need help with this and doing it alone can be hard, so if there's a certain 'friend' that doesn't take to this change very well and is more concerned that you will not be in the pub at 4pm on Fridays...then maybe think about a change of friends too. So having that supportive friend/loved one encouraging you to go to the gym or choosing a healthier dish will help you with goals and having that friend who will force you into a night out to drink 3 bottles of wine, eat a kebab and then miss the gym for 3 weeks is maybe not a friend after all.
Now write down HOW will you feel if you DON'T complete your New Years Resolution. Disappointed, sad, low self esteem ect. Another year of feeling down and miserable? Do you really want to look back in 10 years time and wish you had started instead of failing yet again?
Then write down your mini goals, and WHEN you plan to complete them, so for example "By April I want to have lost 1 stone, out of the 3 stone target". Mini goals are key with long term goals. Some days you may lose motivation, and you will need something to keep you going. Huge long term goals can feel overwhelming and impossible at times. So if you feel quitting smoking all together may lead to you starting again, then perhaps experimenting at decreasing how many you have a day might be better. So for example by February I want to be down to 5 a day, by April I want to not smoke at all on Thursdays, by June I want to not smoke throughout the weekends. Eventually building yourself up towards your major goal.
Next write down the BARRIERS that may get in your way. Such as family...yes really! What is going to get in the way of your New Years Resolution and make you fail and why? Parties/celebrations/holidays/stress at work/tiredness/boredom? This is a very important part of your plan, in order for success we need to know our potential future failures. You know the saying Fail to Prepare... Prepare to Fail.
Now a lot of diets and fitness plans fail because of simple immediate satisfaction. For example you're on a role with your plan and one day you have a bad day at work, there's too much to do at home, the kids are fighting, there's financial stress and then someone offers you a slice of cake/glass of wine/pizza and you say YES. Because you need something to cheer you up right? Try and remember how you will feel after you eat that cake, or have that cigarette...guilt, sadness, a failure? We need to remember that our long term goals are far more important to us then our immediate satisfactions. So in other words do you want that slice of cake now or do you want to be 1 stone lighter in 2 months...which one will make you happier and fill you of pride and self worth in the long term?
Referring to our goals and recapping every week is something I would recommend. You can have a little private notebook to yourself. With your plans written down, write your progress, your barriers, what you did to overcome them, did you have setbacks and what you will do in the future to make sure that doesn't happen again. Im not saying that it will be easy and there maybe a couple of failed moments at times but it's key to realise the importance of what ever you're trying to do. Forgiveness is a big thing when you feel like you've failed. Simply forgiving yourself if you have had a takeaway, or missed the gym for a week, or had a cigarette, there's nothing you can do to change the past, but you can change the future. Forgive, love yourself and move on with your New Years Resolution in sight.
