According to this, the number one new year’s resolution last year was to “lose weight”, and “staying fit and healthy” came in at number five. Maybe you’re your own personal proof that this is not surprising.
It’s probably also not surprising that by mid-month a lot of those resolutions have been set aside (maybe next year!). As a fitness instructor and an avid exerciser, I’ve been in the gym on many a January 1 (and the 364 days thereafter), and I’ve seen a lot of fitness goals set and discarded. These are a few of the trends I’ve noticed among people who give up.
They’re still thinking of them as “resolutions.”
As we discussed, those are practically made to be quit upon. Call it what it really is: a goal. Goals are fun, and when we put ourselves to a goal, we don’t want to give up so easily. Also, goals are something you can set today. No need to wait until next January 1.
They don’t give themselves enough time.
You didn’t gain 30 pounds in a day, and you’re not going to lose it in a day. If you wanted to be model-thin by Friday, you should have done an August Resolution instead. You’re starting now, and this is great, but give yourself a reasonable amount of time to make a lasting change.
They focus (too much) on the end result.
You’ve got to keep that ultimate goal in mind, but you can’t lose the faith when you look the same today as you did yesterday despite a two-hour workout. Fitness changes aren’t immediate. It’s about the accumulated time and effort. So keep accumulating.
They compare their progress to someone else’s progress.
My body is not going to respond to something exactly the same way your body is. Maybe you and your friend set out this year to lose weight together, and maybe it’s happening more quickly and effortlessly for your friend. So, good for him. Maybe you need more time. See above.
It’s not what they really want.
Maybe you join the gym out of pressure (societal, marital, friendly, whatever), but if that workout motivation has no source inside of you, you’re probably not going to keep showing up. It’s got to be a lifestyle you’re ready to adopt; it’s got to be something you deeply, deeply desire for yourself.
I love resolutions because I love identifying the need for a positive change and going for it. What’s in store for you this year?