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A New Year, a new you.  We hear this statement a lot right around January 1st, along with the hype to lose weight or start an exercise program.  But what does that really mean, and doesn’t creating a new “you” just seem a little too daunting?

New Year’s resolutions are sadly often the first way we let ourselves down in a New Year. With lofty expectations for ourselves, we are quickly reminded when we revert back to our old ways that maybe it isn’t so easy to make this “new you” everyone has been talking about.

This year I challenge you to take some easy steps to keep your New Year’s Resolution for getting in shape and keeping up the progress beyond January.

When we work with our clients, we encourage them to look at a healthy lifestyle as a step-by-step goal that has some room for errors.  Remember that what separates the short term New Year’s Resolution group from the group that really follows through is your ability to rebound and get back on track despite hiccups.

Here are some simple steps to take in order to keep your resolution:
Hold yourself accountable with specific goals  It is really easy to say, “I want to lose 30 lbs.”, but there is a lot that falls in between you now and you minus 30 lbs.  Set weekly, if not daily, goals for yourself.   Keep a daily journal that not only records your mindset, but also what you did that day to bring you closer to your goal.  Seeing your effort in black and white will not only motivate you, but will also give you the kick in the pants you may need to keep it up.

Find a workout program you can truly fit into your current lifestyle
The fact of the matter remains that you are going to make sure you fulfill your work and family obligations before you fit in a workout.  You minus those 30 lbs. unemployed was not part of the goal, right?  Our Online Workouts can realistically fit into your schedule right now.

Dieting is for losers.
OK, I know that sounds a bit harsh.  But statistically “diets” don’t work.  If they do, they are short-term fixes that won’t get you the long-term results you are looking for. Commit to learning how food works with your body this year.  Think of it as research on fuel that you are putting in the most valuable piece of equipment you own–your body.  Track your nutrition on free websites such as www.sparkpeople.com orwww.fitday.com to see your results on paper and really learn the nutritional contents of what you are eating.  I promise you that this is an education that will pay off big-time.  We encourage our clients to eat clean 75% of the time.  This room for error allows you to be human, indulge every so often, and avoid the guilt.

Give yourself a “Mulligan”
Call it a “Mulligan”, call it a “Hall Pass”…but allow yourself to have it when you veer from your resolution.   This break will be just what you needed to refocus and get back to business without beating yourself up about it.

Take our “Red X” challenge.
Nothing looks better than when it is written in red.  Even teachers do it to say, “Good Job!” or “A!” in school.  We challenge you to buy a red marker and make a big “X” on the days you completed your exercise.  Shoot for 15 Red X’s in a month. Seeing this on your calendar will feel good, trust me.  Remember it takes 21 days to form a habit, and after that first month your “new you” will feel so good, you won’t want to go back to the 2011 you.