5 Tips to Sticking to Your New Year's Resolution!

How do you stick to your New Year’s Resolutions?

First off, it can be pretty DAUNTING when your list of New Year’s Resolutions is as long as your holiday shopping list. In addition to the post-holiday slump a lot of people get into, not being able to keep your resolutions by February, March or even late January may increase your anxiety. When your holiday decorations are packed up and stored away, the frustration of an unused gym membership or other reminders of failed resolutions can make the later winter months feel hopeless, I know! I've been there before!

However, it is important to remember that the New Year isn't meant to serve as a catalyst for sweeping character changes, those can be started at any moment on any day, at any time, and they take time! It is however, the perfect time for people to reflect on their past year’s behavior, their triumphs, their failures, and promise to make POSITIVE lifestyle changes moving forward. Setting small, consistent, attainable goals throughout the year instead of a singular, overwhelming huge goal on January 1st can help you reach whatever it is you strive for!

Remember, it is not the extent of the change that really matters, but rather the act of recognizing that lifestyle change is important and working toward it, one step at a time. But there still must be some actions taken or change will never happen for you.

By making your resolutions like a staircase instead of a skyscraper, there is a greater chance that you will keep them throughout the year, incorporating healthy behavior into your everyday life, and building on those actions one step at a time.

Here are some tips when thinking about a News Year’s resolution:

Start small

Make resolutions that you can keep. If they're challenging to you now, that’s good, but you'll need to have a strong "why" for you to see them through! If you don't think you can, you won't. Start with something you know you can achieve and build off of that!

For example, if you want to run a marathon by September 2015, which is a pretty big goal! you're going to want to start training small, like running a mile, or a block, whatever is achievable for you right now. You won't want to show up on race day thinking you're ready if all you've done is a couple 5k's all year.

Now let's say you would just like to start eating healthier. Again, start with what you know you can do. One of the best ways is using the "replace" or "add in" method. You can start replacing dessert with something else you enjoy, like fruit or yogurt or a nutrient packed Shakeology instead of seeing your diet as a form of punishment, you can actually enjoy the process! The goal is to not overwhelm yourself, it's a shift of mindset and developing a new lifestyle. It doesn't happen overnight. In the meantime, do some further research into fueling your body properly!

You can go to the Fitness Redemption home page and select to receive a 5 day clean eating plan to help propel you in the right direction! (Grocery list included!)

Change one behavior at a time

Unhealthy behaviors develop over the course of time. So, replacing unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones requires time also. Don't get overwhelmed and think that you have to reassess EVERYTHING in your life. Instead, work toward changing one thing at a time. But pick one! write it down, and work towards it.

Talk about it

Share your goals or resolutions with family and friends! Post them on social media! It's excellent form of motivation and accountability. Don't believe me? Try it!

You can also consider joining a support group like my monthly Beachbody Challenge groups to help you reach your goals if their health and fitness related. Having others like yourself to share your struggles and successes with makes your journey to a healthier lifestyle that much easier and less intimidating! We're in it together!

Don't beat yourself up

Perfection is unattainable. Remember that minor missteps when reaching your goals are completely normal and OK. Don’t give up completely because you ate a brownie and broke your diet plan, or skipped your P90 workout Tuesday because you got tied up with your sick child. Everyone has ups and downs; resolve to recover from your mistakes/bad days and get back on track. Jump back in at any time, right where you left off!

Ask for support

Accepting help from those who care about you and will listen strengthens your resilience and ability to manage stress caused by your resolution, another reason a challenge group helps so many. If you feel overwhelmed or unable to meet your goals on your own, speak up! ask for help! You're worth it!

An Invitation

The number one New Year’s resolution is to exercise more frequently and get fit, If that's you, then start with a plan! Most people just get a gym membership knowing what they want to achieve but have no clue on what to do or how to achieve it. They just start slinging some weights around or just spend hours on an elliptical.

Do yourself a favor and put some skin in the game! You could hire a personal trainer or a better and much cheaper option would be getting a Beachbody program! They're PERFECT for everyone, so BUY ONE! I'll help you find one perfect for you, your goals, and your fitness level, and even help you through it.

Now then, once you have it, you can start it when YOU are ready to commit to it and have mentally prepared to take on the challenge of benefiting yourself through daily exercise and working on a healthier diet! Something else I'd love to help you work with you on. They're much different than just a gym membership. They take all the guess work out and you have a personal trainer with you in the comfort of your own home. They don't cost you time going to and from the gym, and they're incredibly SIMPLE, not easy, but simple! What I mean by that is that it's already tailored for you! So unless you have a tried and tested meal plan and workout routine and personal trainer that will get you to your goals as quickly and safely as possible then you will plateau and get frustrated. I've been there too!

2015 is waiting on the new and improved you! Go get it!

#newyearresolution