By Blake Beckcom | Fitness
As New Year’s resolutions arise as the year ends, many jump on the bandwagon of losing weight, getting fit and living a healthier lifestyle. While we all can benefit from making these types of positive lifestyle changes, most resolutions fizzle out, unfortunately, before they even have a chance to settle in. So, why does this popular annual pastime of making New Year’s resolutions tend to result in failed attempts, false starts and lackluster efforts?
Well, actually, it’s quite simple. Resolution season brings colder temperatures and limited daylight. Additionally, the start of the year is filled with busy life, work and family schedules. Perhaps most importantly, doing what you’ve always done is a lot easier than trying something new.
So what can you do to jump over these common resolution hurdles and finish strong in the quest for resolution success?
Commit then action
The first step toward accomplishing your health and fitness resolutions is to back your goals with action. You can’t wish your way to a healthier, stronger you. You have to make a real commitment that includes a support structure and lifestyle change focused on meeting your overall health and fitness goals.
One way to create a deeper level of health and fitness commitment is by working out with someone and not going it alone. Research indicates that the presence of others around you during a workout session and the effects of competition can have a positive influence on your exertion and fitness performance levels. A fitness buddy on the same path as you can become a “partner in the trenches” helping you to work harder and stay the course. A professional fitness trainer creates safe effective workouts geared to where you are fitness-wise, and self-accountability via an appointment system. Whether it is a fitness buddy or personal trainer, in either case, accountability is borne out of expectations. It is a lot easier to get yourself off the couch and out the door if you know someone is waiting to workout with you.
Schedule self-accountability
Keep yourself accountable to health and fitness goals by scheduling your weekly workouts into your personal and professional calendars. If you view your workouts as a serious appointment and dedicate specific time to a physically fit lifestyle, you will be less likely to skip your workouts when life becomes busy. Many New Year’s resolutions fail because people not only embark on the journey alone, but they also let other items on their life calendar take priority over their goals. Set yourself up for resolution success by wrapping your goals up with a strong support system that includes a weekly plan of action.
Old is out; new is in
The same old workouts and lifestyle tendencies will yield the same old results. If you are seriously committed to reaching new levels of physical fitness, it is important to change up your approach by combining a can-do attitude with new workout routines focused on measurable strength and conditioning goals.
Fitness is an ongoing process that doesn’t happen overnight. Instead of making rash decisions like cleaning out all of the food in your pantry or exercising seven days a week when you have rarely made it to the gym once a week, set yourself up for success by identifying incremental benchmarks (going to the gym three times a week, running a mile without stopping, bench pressing 100 pounds, etc.) that can help keep your overall fitness goals within reach and within perspective. This approach will keep you on the path to reaching new physical fitness levels throughout the year and provide you with the opportunity to celebrate your successes along the way.
By pushing aside old barriers and incorporating new lifestyle behaviors centered around commitment, accountability and positive attitudes, you are well on your way to investing in a healthier body and happier you for the new year.
—Blake Beckcom runs Fitness Together Mission Hills with his wife Gwen. Contact them at fitnesstogether.com/missionhills.
