How to Keep New Year's Resolutions All Year Long

By Nicole German (Reg. Dietitian)

Have you thought about your resolutions for for the new year yet?

For the majority of people, weight loss and getting healthy is the number one goal. Why is it that we make this resolution over and over again every year?

This year, it is time to be able to stick to your resolution. Come next December, let's resolve to stay fit and healthy together.

Step 1: Create a smart goal list. It is important to set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely goals. Setting smart achievable goals will prevent you from failing.

Step 2: Create an action plan to realize those goals, and schedule your action plan into your weekly schedule.

Step 3: Seek support and motivation. Find a buddy, or an online support group, or try logging your food online to keep you accountable.

Step 4: Add variety. We all get sick and tired of routines. If you are on a scheduled path to success, it is easy for it to get redundant and to give up due to boredom.

If you are working on fitness, try a lot of cross training. If you are working on diet, try new foods and new recipes. Venture to a local farmer's market and buy foods in season to vary your diet.

Step 5: Reward yourself. It is best to create short term goals all year long, and then reward yourself each time you reach those short term goals. We need positive feedback too!

But, be careful, and do not reward yourself with food. Instead, buy a new outfit, or go see that movie you were dying to see. Treat yourself.

A main reason people fail is when other things in life begin to seem more important than our goals. Work and children tend to come first. But, you have to remember to put yourself first sometimes because without health, you have nothing.

This may all seem logical and realistic, but the most important part is doing it by putting your resolution into action.

Good luck in the year to come and make it a healthy one!

View the original article here