It’s now the end of the first week in March, and Spring is just around the corner.  While I’m still getting up in the dark, daylight and I soon will be on the same schedule.  I can’t wait!

I am at the gym Monday - Friday by 7:30 AM the latest.  I have noticed a distinct change in the last 2 weeks.  The parking lot has fewer cars, the locker room fewer people and there is no competition for machines or free weights.  Wonder what that’s all about?

It’s easy.  Folks set New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, exercise more and start out with great intentions and no real plan.  The very moment something steps in their path and creates a bit of an obstacle, instead of walking around it and heading in the direction they “committed” to on January 1^st, they use the obstacle as a reason to quit.  Their “will power” loses out to their “I can’t”.  This is true for 92% of the people who make New Year’s resolutions according to Forbes Magazine. 

The difference between being one of the quitters and one of the committed can actually be summed up with a few statements:

• Set goals, not resolutions
• Set reasonable goals, do not expect more from yourself than you are willing or able to give.  (example- I will not ever try to subsist on 600 calories a day, nor will I commit to 3 hours a day at the gym - both are unreasonable)
• Put your goals in a reasonable time frame (losing 10 lbs in a week is not a reasonable goal; losing 10 pounds in 6 weeks sounds a whole lot more doable.
• Know your WHY - have a clear understanding of why you want to reach that goal - to be healthy is a great why; however be a little more specific and it’s easier to remember it with passion.
• Realize that you are working on creating a new habit, whether it be food choices or exercise, it will not necessarily be easy or comfortable to accomplish.  Change happens when we step outside of our comfort zone.
• Be consistent - create the specific daily actions that are necessary for you to reach your goal and repeat them daily so they can become a habit.
• Acknowledge small milestones along the way….you made it to the gym 5 days in a row…good job!  Perhaps get a mani/pedi or some flowers for the house or go to the movies.  Don’t use food as a reward please.
• Re-assess as necessary and don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t reached your goal in your set period of time…  you have not failed; look at how far you have come.

Just a few methods I use to keep myself moving forward, to constantly have new goals to work towards and to fine tune my healthy life.

Please don’t share these tips with the folks who no longer have to share a lane with me in the swimming pool.  I like beating the odds and being in that 8%.