Is making a New Year's Resolution enough?

Last night, as I watched Saturday Night Live there was a skit where they joked about people's New Years Resolutions, and how quickly it seems that we forget about them.  I believe that most of us have very good intentions, but that out intentions count for very little as far as our sucess rate is concerned.

Here are a few idea for making your resolutions stick.  I have found that actually writing all of this down makes a huge difference.

1.  What is your exact goal?  Getting in shape is too broad.  Break it down into mini goals.  What does getting in shape mean physically?  Will you measure it by the dress size that you wear, or by the number of pounds that you lose?  Does getting in shape for you mean that you will run a mile in a certain amount of time?  Think of a milestone that you will hit (or get closer to) that will make you feel sucessful.

2.  What situations are usually problematic for you?  When I was trying to lose weight, my most difficult situaltions were: When I forgot to eat for a long time (or tried not to) and became ravenous, and ate anything and everything! and when I went to the grocery store and came home with things that were not healthy for me, simply because I was tempted.  I thought of things that I could do to manage these situations.  I now: always have a healthy snack in my purse so that I don't become ravenous, and I order my groceries to avoid the temptation.  I know that I am always tempted by delicious foods, so this helps me:)

3.  What are a few new habits that you can make that will support your resolution?

4.  Is there a habit that you have that is making it impossible to acheive yor resolution?  Is it possible that you believe that keeping this habit brings you pleasure?  If so, it's time to change that belief.  If you aren't able to keep your resolution, this old habit is causing you pain in the long run, and it's time to remember that fact each and every time that you start to consider going back to your old way of doing things.  Does eating a doughnut make you feel good for the two minutes that you spend eating it?  Sure.  But what about the pain that you feel for the next 23 hours and 58 minutes of the day when you can't wear half of your clothes because they are too tight, and you don't feel the way that you want to.  There is no perfect weight or body shape, but feeling the way that you want to feel is so crucial.

Do you have a resolution that you are having trouble sticking too, an need some fresh ideas on how to acheive your goals?  Email me at megangrahamfitness@gmail.com and let me know how I can help you!

Megan