Fitness Resolutions – Make and Keep!

Towards the end of every single year we all make strong, promising Resolutions, specially the ones relating to “health and wellbeing”. To join a gym, exercise, correct our eating habits, wake up early go for a walk, take promises of not to touch or even look at sweets, fried, alcohol and what not. Just as we women cannot find anything sexy to wear for new years, nothing nice fits us is when we suddenly wish we had been working out for at least the last two months. All round the year we don’t give our health as much importance as we do during the year end. Only for that one evening.

But the question is, do resolutions really work? And the answer is No, not always.

It isn’t about being negative, just a harsh truth. For a “fitness” resolution to work out or be successful it requires goal setting. It cannot be a one day or a once in a year thing, it needs to be a habit, a lifestyle. Most of us treat a resolution as if it possesses some kind of magical powers. Just by making one, it will work. We are more interested in making a resolution than working on keeping it. That’s because it’s cool to have a resolution. That is what matters at the end of the day.

What is most surprising is that all those resolutions are fitness related and unfortunately also those which fail by February or March. We all make ambitious phone calls to the gyms and get ourselves enrolled; after all it’s a resolution. But what happens after that? One month, two months, three months maximum and we are back to normal just like the previous year. The gymming stops, eating habits change, discipline goes out of the window and our routine work takes over every promise ever made. Now, wait for next year. Wait for another resolution.

Sometimes people do stick to the promise made and do start a regime but just end up setting such a great goal that they feel overwhelmed by its size and complexity. I feel it’s better to break things down and make small manageable goals to keep up the motivation and the challenge.

So how exactly do we bring success to a resolution?

To keep up to any kind of fitness resolution it’s very important to list it down and make it visible to you on an everyday basis. This way you can keep reminding yourself about your target. Go and buy that dress which did not fit you this year and work on fitting into it next year. Ask your personal trainer to keep a track on you, your progress and keep reminding you of how badly you want to reach your dream weight, don’t go overboard with the resolution at first which might only results in pain and de-motivate you to go any further. Set small manageable goals, achieve them and set new ones. Share your goals and targets with your friends and family, this way you will get help and encouragement to achieve them and sometimes when you already have made it so loud you will end up sticking to it out of ego and proving yourself which will work in your favour and show you results. Choose activities that make you happy, no need to always opt and go for the stereotype.

So, like you see there is no such science involved in keeping a resolution or even making it work. It’s about setting a goal, making up your mind, being dedicated and committed to it. Don’t wait for an entire year to make a fitness related change or resolution. It can be made, followed and achieved at any given point.

So, Good Luck and a very Happy New Year!