Are you one of the millions of people who, every year without fail, make one or more New Year’s resolutions? Many people begin thinking about what New Year’s resolutions they’ll make as early as October. They know that there are many opportunities to overindulge in goodies when the fall comes.
First comes Halloween and all the kids’ candy from trick or treating. Within a month, Thanksgiving rolls around, and there are treats galore to overindulge in. Finally, other holidays roll around. However, you don’t only have to deal with cookies, candies, pies, and cakes on holidays. You’ve been making these goodies all month long, so they’re readily available.
Instead of making New Year resolutions, which you inevitably will break before February 1, why not decide now to do something good for yourself NOW? Make changes in your attitudes concerning food and exercise before you overindulge in the goodies of the holidays.
Think about the things most people make resolutions for – losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising more, eating healthier, saving money, not getting angry, and others – these are all things you can work on all year long, not only at the beginning of the year.
If each year’s goal is essential to making life changes, you must resolve to begin changing the way you live now, regardless if it’s January or December. Change doesn’t have to start on the first of the year. It can happen on any given day, week, or month. Don’t allow yourself to put off making changes. Begin making tiny changes now to help you get into a routine, and it won’t seem like such a shock to your system.
Make goals to change rather than a resolution you know you’re not likely to keep. If you make goals – and write them down – you can make them specific and measurable, so you’re more likely to reach them.
Begin by making a list of the things you would like to change. Be specific. Instead of saying, “I want to lose 50 pounds,” write the following, “I want to lose 10 pounds a month, 2-3 pounds a week, for the next year. I will weigh myself once a week to review my progress. If I have not been successful one week, I will stop eating as many carbohydrates or exercise more.”
Since losing two to three pounds a week is more attainable than losing 50 pounds, you will be more likely to reduce the amount you eat, spend exercising, or change the foods you eat to reach that goal. Part of the reason why losing small amounts is more accessible is because you won’t feel like you’re sacrificing so much and that you’ll never be able to eat foods that you like again.
Ask others in your family or your friends to help you. There are people you know who would also like to lose weight or become more active. Enlist their help. Exercise together. Cheer each other on. When you have friends and family that come alongside you to help you succeed, your chances of success will skyrocket.
