Lose weight. Exercise more. Stop smoking. Eat better. With each new year comes new resolutions, or perhaps last years – recycled.
Attention Resolution Makers – The good news is that you’re much more likely to make improvements than someone who hasn’t made a formal resolution. Here are some tips to help you stay on track and achieve your goals.
Be Specific – Although lose weight, exercise more & eat better are worthwhile goals to have, their vagueness can make them hard to stick with. Be specific, like: Lose 2 pounds per week; walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes 3 times per week; eat at least one fruit and one vegetable at every meal. These type of goals are calculatable per specific time frame (day/week).
Buddy System or Make it Public – Don’t go it alone, either have an accountability partner that shares the same goal or announce your goals on social media, to your family or in your workplace. That way you will be held accountable by those closest to you.
Make Necessary Changes – Don’t depend on willpower. Take necessary steps to help you succeed; plan meals in advance, keep junk food out ot the kitchen, schedule workouts with friends, etc.
Keep Track of Progress – Make sure you keep track of your progress and reward small achievements. NOTE: If weight loss is the goal, be certain not to make food your reward, instead, splurge on a new outfit or accessory.
You Haven’t Failed Until You Quit – Don’t Overreact to Lapse – We are all going to lapse from time to time. It is important to deal with failures by getting back on track and continuing along your journey. One reason dieters fail is a phenomenon formally known as “counter regulatory eating” – and informally as the “what the heck effect.” Once they lapse, they figure the day’s diet is blown anyway, so they go on to finish the whole container of ice cream, causing far more damage than the original lapse.