Make a Better New Year’s Resolution

With 2009 fast approaching, it’s New Year’s resolution time.  Are you making a resolution to lose weight?  Every year thousands of people resolve to drop a few pounds in the New Year.  The challenge with this resolution is that it doesn’t describe what specifically needs to be done to lose weight.  We have the goal, but no plan on how to achieve the goal.

Make a better resolution by writing down a more detailed plan to lead you to your goal.  Break your resolution down into specific steps.   Here are some tips:

• Think about the specific steps that need to be taken to help you lose weight.  If you are going to “work out”, what are you going to specifically do?  Work out on the elliptical at the gym?  Run on your treadmill at home?  Instead of saying I’m going to “eat healthy”, be more specific: I’m going to take a piece of fruit to work for an afternoon snack.
• Create steps that are measurable so you can see if you’re on track. Simply writing I will run on my treadmill doesn’t give you the same guidance as I will run on my treadmill for 30 minutes four times every week.  The latter helps you know exactly what you’re trying to do.
• Review your step to make sure it’s attainable and realistic.  Here’s a personal example.  Two years ago I resolved to run on my treadmill before work during the winter since it was too bitterly cold (and dark) outside to run.  I wanted to get back into the routine I’d had several years prior.  I set out to run 50 minutes every weekday.  Well, I couldn’t get myself out of bed to do it!  I’d wake up and think, “oh gosh, I’ve got to run for 50 minutes?!?” and quickly press the snooze button.  After becoming frustrated and a bit down on myself, I revised my goal to run just 20 minutes.  It was amazing how when I woke up, I looked forward to the 20 minutes of running while watching the morning news.  It was a more reasonable workout for me at the time.  And as I settled into my morning routine, I was able to slowly increase my running time.  Had I left the goal at 50 minutes, I’d still be pressing the snooze button!

Aim for writing three specific steps to reach your New Year’s resolution.  Here are some example steps to get you thinking about what might work for you:

• I will pack my lunch to take with me to work at least three days a week.
• I will go for a 30-minute walk over my lunch break three days a week.
• I will eat one or more vegetables with lunch and dinner five days a week.
• I will exercise to one of my exercise videos before work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
• I will make a home cooked meal four days a week.

Good luck!  Let us know how you’re doing with your resolution.