| Do you have a New Year’s resolution yet? It’s usually one of those thoughts that lurks in the backs of our minds as we enjoy the bounty of the holiday season. Resolutions are great, because they make us think about aspects of our lives that we’d like to change. On the other hand, they’re frustrating because we so often don’t (for whatever reason) keep them.
Annually, many of us resolve to lose weight or get in shape. This is a great resolution, given that there are 400,000 weight-related deaths each year. To top it off, many weight-related diseases are preventable by exercise and sound nutrition. If this is your quest in 2002, here are some tips to make it stick.
First, figure out WHY you want to change. It’s important to understand your motivation. Specifically, you’ll want to make sure your reasons for change are appealing to you. You shouldn’t make resolutions to impress someone else. Diet and lifestyle changes are so ingrained in our lives that they’re tough to truly commit to (for the long term) for someone other than yourself!
A tool that really helps is to schedule your workout. Make an appointment with yourself to go to the gym, take a walk, get on your treadmill or take that new yoga class. Treat your own health like you would treat an appointment with a friend or your doctor.
Better yet, schedule an appointment with a trainer or a friend. Working out with a friend is one of the best and most fun ways to get in shape. Friends help hold you accountable – they call you when you don’t show up. Also, they make exercising more fun, just by being there to share the experience (and sometimes the pain). This is one reason that so many people like to participate in group exercise. When you exercise with others, you pick up on group energy, you laugh and meet new people who have similar interests to you. I can’t tell you how many long-lasting relationships I’ve formed in the aerobics room.
Goal setting is another valuable method for sticking with your new routine. Specifically, set some short term goals, starting with attainable and realistic goals and rewarding yourself for accomplishing them (keep in mind that you probably shouldn’t reward yourself with a whole cheesecake if you’re trying to lose weight!). You may even begin with the goal to get to the gym to exercise for a half an hour 3 times a week. If you can maintain this goal for 21 days (this is how long experts say it takes to form a habit), then perhaps you can consider revisiting and revising your goals.
Finally, don’t just do it because it’s somebody else’s workout. Find something that you like and have fun doing. Working out shouldn’t just be about grinding through weight lifting repetitions or barely making it through a class you despise. Exercising and eating right are good for your body and your soul. Once you commit yourself and get started, you’ll find that you miss feeling that exercise “high” if you can’t make your workout. Cheers – make 2002 all about you!
(Editor’s Note: Andrea Regal, manager of Olympic Fitness in Port Orchard has a background in leadership training and development. She can be reached at (360) 871-3433.). | 
