New Years Resolutions 2011- Take Small Steps for a Large Goal

Sick and tired of making the same resolution time and time again? Is this the year you decided that you would follow through on trimming weight off your waistline? Or tone up your arms? Why is it that the first week of January gyms are packed, and membership sales offices are full with potential new members, by the second week it seems the hype has died down, and the bench presses are free once again.

Simply put, most people set unrealistic goals, and set themselves up to fail due to a lack of planning!

Set a realistic plan of action, and follow through with it.

Set short-term goals (ex. Lose 1lb of fat per week)
Set Specific long-term goals (ex. Lose 20lbs, by June1st.

How to get started after you set goals for yourself?

Seek Help- Don’t be afraid to seek the help of a professional (Personal trainer, nutritionist, therapist). We as humans seek help for almost everything in life, but most don’t want to pay when it comes to their health.
Going to the gym, or even the grocery store can be confusing, and very discouraging if you haven’t devised a plan for your workouts and nutrition.
Discouragement in the top reason we give up on our fitness goals

Steps 1, 2 ,3

Baby steps-Taking small steps toward a large goal will keep you on track, and keep you from giving up. Sure, going cold turkey maybe the best way when giving up cigarette smoke, but not when it comes to junk food. The best way to start eating clean is to slowly cut certain foods out, which can even be done in phases of weeks

Week 1- Throw out all junk food from your house (literally throw it, don’t hide it)

Week 2- Cut out all fried foods

Week 3- Replace milk with alternate sources (Almond Breeze)

Week 4- Replace white bread with Ezekiel bread

Week 5- Start eating vegetables with every meal

Week 6- Eliminate the use of cooking with any butter, margarine, or lard. Use olive oil

Taking small steps will make it much easier on you rather then going from eating 5000 calories per day of complete junk, to going on a diet that a pro bodybuilder would follow.

Setting goals are very important, both short and long term. You may have crashed on your diet last year, and the year before after the second week of January because it was too intense. Dieting can be tough, that is why the best way to do it is by seeking help, and slowly easing into it, that way you don’t feel too restricted.

Have you ever heard the saying “ You always want something you can’t have”?

The saying is definitely true, because after you give in and finally have that piece of chocolate you knew you couldn’t have, it really didn’t feel all that worth it, did it?

Slowly progress to make 2011 the most successful year as far as meeting your fitness goals