Resolutioners--Stick to your guns!

Here we are in week two of your new life and you are trying hard to stick to your plan to get in shape. If things are going exactly how you planned then good job, keep going and if you need some help feel free to come back to this again and again. If this big change is starting to get to you then this may be perfect timing for inspiration. Here are some tips on helping you get through to the other side.


Make sure you have a plan with short term and long-term goals. You will need to be very purposeful in the beginning. If you have a plan each week, with a goal for that week, it will be easier to stick to it. Also, try to have a couple long-term goals that you are striving for at the end of one year. This will keep you focused on the long-term results of your new life change. Keep going. Change is hard. It is never a breeze to start fresh and begin again. That’s why not many people do it. But take heart, soon all this work will become habit and you will begin to wonder how lived any other way. This usually takes about 3-6 months so press on and keep striving to reach your goals.

Find a buddy to help you out. Share your goals with your friends. Give someone a call each day to let them know how you’re doing and what your plan is for the day. Or you may even want to get someone to join you on your journey by taking up the same new lifestyle you are choosing for yourself. Make sure you choose someone who really wants to change. You want someone who will hold you accountable when you feel like you can’t go on.

If losing weight is your main goal, don’t always rely on your scale. Remember that muscle weighs much more than fat and sometimes just looking in a full length mirror will tell you how you’re doing better than a scale can.

Try new things, being happy is important so experiment with new ways to be active and you will find that you are more likely to stick to your goals. Plus, different activities will work different parts of your body so that you will have a more balanced exercise bank to select from. Walking, snowshoeing, interval training, swimming, cycling, tennis, and skiing are just a few fun forms of exercise that you could try. I recently realized that I love punching & kicking the punching bag in my gym. It gets my heart rate up higher than I ever thought it would and my hamstrings were sore for a week afterward!

Hire a personal trainer. One thing I enjoy doing with my clients is setting up an obstacle course around the track to really shake up the routine.

If there is a certain type of activity that you can’t stand, then don’t do it. Many people think they have to torture themselves in order to get into shape. But that is not the case. There are so many other things to choose from so pick something that will help you be positive and that you will enjoy. It is awesome that you are trying to make positive lifestyle changes. The benefits of these changes will be with you forever and your body will thank you for it. You can do it and you will do it!