Well we’re coming up to another New Year – 2014 to be precise – traditionally a time when people re-evaluate their lives and take stock of the year that’s passed and think about the year ahead of them. It’s also the season for setting New Year’s resolutions!
I’m not a big fan of New Year resolutions. They’re often set around giving up something following the post festive-excess. The majority of such resolutions are bound to fail as you’re coming down from the holiday highs – plenty of food, drink and merriment – and throwing yourself into the opposite extreme – usually abstinence of the food and drink coupled with a new exercise regime – which to your body came completely out of nowhere! Such an extreme makes it feel like you’re kicking some disgusting drug habit – desperately craving what you can’t have – usually until you become that miserable that you break your resolution!
Instead of the New Year resolution why not set yourself some realistic and manageable goals – and not just for January but for the whole year. By developing your resolution into a goal and adding the reasons why success is important will help push you along.
Don’t delay – start today
Ok so Christmas is barely over with and you’re still planning your killer New Year’s Eve party to worry about next year yet… but now is the perfect time to plan – don’t wait until January 1st to decide what you’re going to do (but on the other-hand if it is January the 1st and you’re here then just get on with it!). Whatever the date – start right now.
Start by mapping out what you want to achieve in the next year (and indeed beyond) and planning your goals in more detail. This isn’t meant to be a painful and arduous process, but by spending a little time planning now you’ll start the year in the right frame of mind – and not knee-jerk to set some unrealistic, ridiculous or painful resolutions!
Lose weight / get fit / get toned / insert goal here!
I want to lose weight. I need to lose weight. I want to get fit. I want to get toned. I want to get strong… Whatever your goal – for those of you looking to get in some form of improved shape in the New Year – then I’m here to help…
In 2013 I set myself some goals and became accountable through this blog. I’ll be posting my results for the year in the coming days (so keep a look out for those) and I’ll also be revealing my health and fitness goals for 2014. Now you need to do this same…
Become accountable (to yourself at least)
Once you’ve set your goals then make yourself accountable for them. Share them with your friends or family or even start your own blog. At the very least leave a comment on this blog telling me and the readers what you intend to do (and keep us posted on what you do do).
Don’t underestimate the power of this step. It really frees your mind and allows you to get on with the task at hand.
Take action
If you want something – you can undertake what is necessary to learn, plan, work for and achieve it. Losing weight, gaining muscle or any other fitness goal is the same (assuming what you want is realistic and achievable).
You may find you need to undertake some learning or research to find the methods you need to reach your goal. If your goal is to lose weight then a good place to start would be by looking through this blog.
Once you have the knowledge you need you’ll be able to put in place an action plan that will get you to where you want to be (i.e. to achieve your goal). You then you need to take that action until you realise your goal!
Nothing is easy. You didn’t put the weight on overnight so you won’t lose it overnight. But by planning ahead you are enhancing your probability of success immensely.
Take action now
Smart Way To Fat Loss is a resource for you to help set and achieve your fat loss goals. Please do read around the blog, but if you’re pushed for time then here are some specific posts that may help you:
Go to the fat loss guide and take 20-30 minutes to read through that as a starting point.
Learn about fat loss and weight loss.
Look into exercise for beginners or running for beginners.
You can do it!
I don’t claim to have the magic solution to get you into the exact shape you want to be. I only share what I think are the key tools and techniques that will help. Even if I found the magic solution and shared it in an exact and precise way the sad reality is that most people still wouldn’t follow it.
So go on – set your goals for 2014 and become accountable – your first step is to leave a message here telling us what your goal is. You can do it!! I’d love to start a series of posts in 2014 about you and your goals – so if you’re interested in being featured please get in touch.
Photos: SW2FL