Achieving Your Fitness Goals
by Lynn Bode
New Year's Day has come and gone, and if
you are like most people, one of your resolutions
is to get healthier. But if you don't have
an action plan it may be doomed to fail. Unfortunately,
the majority of individuals who make a new
year's resolution have given up on them by
February.
But don't let that discourage you or tempt
you to plop down on your couch with a bag
of chips. People who make resolutions are
more likely to attain their goals than people
who don't. So, if you want to lose weight
or just get more fit in 2007, then resolving
to do so may be beneficial. But to ensure
success, you must have an action plan.
A Department of Labor survey of adults asked
them to identify the biggest issue that prevents
them from achieving their New Years Resolutions
or goals. The top 3 reasons identified were
as follows: Procrastinating 33%; Lack of discipline
24%; No game plan 19%.
Here is a specific action plan for diet and
fitness related resolutions that will help
eliminate these three top issues.
Find a positive support system
For some, family may be just what they need.
But if your family members are struggling
with the same diet or weight loss issues as
you and aren't ready to commit themselves
to change, you might want to look elsewhere.
Friends may also be an option, but again if
they are struggling with their own issues
then you might want to enlist other help.
Try finding a local support group of like-minded
people; go online for a virtual support group
or seek out the help of a professional personal
trainer or dietician.
Don't put off tomorrow what you can do today
One of the biggest obstacles new dieters/exercises
face is just getting started. If you continue
to say "I'll start tomorrow," then
you may find that tomorrow never comes. You
repeatedly procrastinate and before you know
it another year has passed by while you remain
in the same place you were before. If you
promise to start tomorrow, then do it! Don't
allow any other "priority" to get
in the way. At the risk of sounding cliché,
Just Do It!
Start a new exercise plan slowly but remain
consistent and build over time.
Following is an example:
The above exercise and diet recommendations
provide a substantial game plan for your first
two months. All you have to do is implement
it. Post this action plan on your refrigerator
or somewhere else where you will see it every
day. And, mark every action on your daily
calendar to ensure it doesn't get bumped by
some other priority.
Also, remember that setbacks are normal and
should not spell disaster for your resolution.
If you are following your game plan 90% of
the time and only 10% of the time falling
off the wagon, then pat yourself on the back
and cut yourself a little slack! If you find
yourself starting to really wane from the
plan, then tap back into what helped you initially
get motivated. Don't give up. Just start where
you can (even if that's taking a few steps
backward) and head toward your goal.
Lynn Bode is a certified
personal trainer specializing in Internet-based
fitness programs. She founded Workouts For
You, which provides affordable online exercise
programs that are custom designed for each
individual. Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com
for a free sample workout. Fitness professionals
take your business online, visit: http://www.trainerforce.com
