December 31st, 2017- New Year's resolutions

 The New Year has long been associated with creating resolutions to start the year off fresh.
Resolutions motivate and help to create a productive positive lifestyle throughout the upcoming year - out with the old and in with the new.

 For people focused on health and fitness, it's about bringing your lifestyle into sync with these resolutions, and the best way to make sure your New Year resolutions don't fall by the wayside is to have a plan.

• For some of you in our northerly climate, your resolutions are motivated by springtime goals – tossing off the duvets and shedding the woolens to reveal a svelte bathing-suit-ready body - a body ready to parade around in shorts and skimpy trendy fashions.
• For many of you – it's same ol'-same ol' - just trying to get rid of the five-pound holiday weight gain.

•  ..or maybe you have a more serious reason for your New Year resolution -  like trying to fight back disease states, such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and/or atherosclerosis

 Whatever your resolution, it definitely would benefit from having a specific plan with attainable goals.

 Think of the SMART technique for making your plan:

• S is for specific.
  Be very specific about the goal.
  For example: instead of saying I will eat healthier this year – which is a nice idea but very broad – reword the goal to say: "I will eat vegetables once a day at dinner."
  

• M is for measurable.
  If it is a weight-loss goal that you have in mind, give yourself a number amount to lose within a specific time frame. If your goal is to go to the gym, write down the number of times you will be going to the gym within a specific time period.
  For example: I will work out five times within a week.
  ..and remember to decide on the length of time for each gym session, too!
  
• A is for attainable.
  Make it a goal you can achieve. If you work ten hours a day, it may not be achievable to set a goal of working out every day for 3 hours.
• R is for realistic.
  If you don't cook at home, going on a new diet plan where you have to do a lot of cook prep may not be realistic, and cooking may not be the best way to set yourself up for success.
• T is for timely.
  Give yourself a start time and middle and end points.
  For example: "I will start on January 1st, and within 30 days, I will have achieved X amount of weight loss or dietary changes; and within 60 days, I will have accomplished my main goals; and then I will re-evaluate goals to continue towards my New Year resolution of working out more and.." eating healthy during 2018.

 If the thought of a whole fitness plan is way too overwhelming, then start small. Make a resolution that you can achieve and sustain.
 Remember to use the SMART technique so that your goals are specific and do-able.
  Good luck and best wishes for 2018!