New year- new goals!

"New Year's Resolution" a phrase commonly used during the month of January that often dwindles as the weeks of the new year pass by.

   

Every January 1st, millions of people (including myself) decide on a "New Year's Resolution" – usually some form of a promise to ourselves or others that we will be healthier

-in one way or another- this year.

If your resolution for 2013 is "to lose weight"- you are not alone!  This has been the #1 resolution for decades and as tempting as it may seem, don't fall victim to the latest fad diet or “miracle” weight-loss pill scam that shows up.

If you really want to lose weight and keep it off forever- it doesn’t take magic-just a commitment to make small, sustainable lifestyle changes.

These easy tips can help you accomplish your goals for the New Year!

Start Simple:  The first step toward a healthier lifestyle can be something as easy as skipping the elevator in favor of taking the stairs.

Be Specific: Instead of a vague goal like, “I want to exercise more,” try being very specific by saying, “I will walk for 30 minutes, 5 days each week.”  The more specific you are the more likely you’ll be to stick to your goals.

Make it Measurable: Being able to look back at the healthy choices you’ve already made, can help you continue to make good choices in the future.  So start tracking your progress by writing down the amount of minutes you exercise, the number of days you take the stairs at work, or how many steps you walk during the day.

            Bigger is not always better:  Don’t set yourself up for failure by getting stuck on unrealistic goals.  The key to permanent lifestyle changes is thinking smaller and more short-term.  It is a lot easier to imagine yourself 5lb lighter a month from now then trying to picture yourself six months down the road.

            Most importantly, don’t be a Quitter! Just because you made a make a less-than-healthy choice once or twice (or more) doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel.  Be persistent and remember it often takes at least six months of doing something new for it to become a habit

If nothing else, remember the old adage,

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.” _{-W. E. Hickson}