Hello Clients and Friends!
Hope you enjoy today's exciting column on why our new year's resolutions tend to fail :(
The case for the “new year, new you, new start” concept has all of us reevaluating what we want to accomplish, change, alter, etc. in the coming year. Research and our own experience tells us that an overwhelming number of individuals who commit to a health and fitness resolution fail within 6 months! It simply doesn’t work for most and, even worse, sets up us for failure.
What to do? Change the Game and Play Fair!
- Don't promise yourself 20 lbs. of weight loss in 30 days and don't be faked out by the 10-minute workout (usually accompanied by some "nutritional" pill.)
Credible trainers have long known that there needs to be a process that is as individual and customized to our clients to help them in their efforts. The most important elements begin when our clients start by telling themselves the truth. Here are some thoughts to chew on:
- Why have you chosen this resolution now?
- Is it a choice that you are deliberately making or are you doing this for your spouse, children, doctor or someone else?
- Review the past resolutions you have made and discuss the barriers, not the goals, which kept you from ahieving them.
- Look at the upcoming year and see if there are any dramatic changes that will alter your lifestyle.
Certainly you’ll use your own approach with these questions but try to reveal the underlying behaviors that will likely repeat themselves. This is a critical step in going deeper and being honest with yourself.
As always, what matters is what happens next. The rest is simply talk. This month I want to give you some tips that will create an environment for success!
- Journal. After determining your goals or resolutions, take a few days to journal your feelings and thoughts around these goals. Tune into anything that comes to mind – past successes, failures, potential barriers, underlying saboteurs, etc.
- Talk to a Professional. Schedule a meeting to review what you have written and discuss the underlying reasons for your fitness goals and past failures, and also discuss what works for your time frame, diet, schedule etc. This consultation can help you understand yourself better and help the expert know where to begin correcting your course of change.
- Once a month determine together with a fitness expert some very short-term, positive expected outcomes for the month ahead that you can measure and/or track.
- Being fit takes work and is truly difficult for the majority of people. Brainstorm with your personal trainer some creative ways to make these changes gradually – make them part of the solution. A drastic change can create feelings of desperation and even result in moving backward instead of forward. Change can be something as small as adding five minutes to your cardio workout. Since the you create these changes and rewards, the chances of success grow dramatically.
- Talk about the things you are passionate about – what you really love or want for your health. This goes beyond say losing 15lbs., or strengthening abs. Inside each of us there is still a child who wants to dance, ride a bike and express ourselves uniquely. Express and embrace those underlying desires as it can truly create a light at the end of a tunnel that is reached one day at a time. Once you’ve unlocked your potential and understand the deeply personal reasons for your resolutions and goals, you will likely have successful and gratifying relationship with yourself that goes beyond fitness goals.
You are your own change agent. Try something new!
Happy, HEALTHY, New Year!
