New Years is the perfect time to start that diet that you’ve been meaning to start, join a gym (and go on a regular basis), or do a myriad of other fitness-related activities that may have taken a backburner during 2011. Below are some tips to help you set attainable New Years fitness resolutions so you can become a healthier you in 2012.
- Adjust your attitude: If you have the wrong attitude about fitness, you’re already setting yourself up for failure. Rather than looking at exercise as a time-consuming and boring obligation, think of it as a break from your stressful workday, alone time, or a way to boost your energy.
- Avoid vague goals: Instead of setting a goal that you want to exercise more, resolve to go to the gym a certain number of times per week. Or set a goal for the number of pounds that you want to lose or BMI level that you want to attain.
- Make your resolutions public: Tell your family and friends about your goals and enlist their support. They can help keep you honest and on track.
- Recommit to your goals: What motivates you to exercise will change daily, so planning and discipline will be crucial to your long-term success. Recommit to your goals each month and tweak them to fit changes in your lifestyle and attitude.
- Make long-term lifestyle changes: If you want to lose weight, make changes to your lifestyle and eating habits instead of subscribing to a fad diet. Learn to eat a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat diary, and lean proteins while limiting saturated fat, salt, cholesterol and sugar. Losing weight and maintaining that weight loss is a lifetime project.
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