How to keep your resolutions
 

Found this in a newsletter that was mailed to me and thought it was worth sharing!

"New Year's Resolution?

It's a tradition for people to make New Years Resolutions each year. However, did you know that most all people have abandoned their resolutions by the third week in January?

These are the top 5 resolutions in the United States:
1. Lose Weight
2. Quit Smoking
3. Get organized
4. Make more money / save more money
5. Spend more quality time with family / find a mate

How do we make them stick? Instead of making a bunch of resolutions that you know are just good intentions and will be dropped in just a few weeks, find one and focus on it daily. Keeping your resolution is not about willpower, it*s about organization.

Take these 3 steps and keep your resolution:

1. Get organized! Start a journal or open a Word document on the computer. Write your goal big and bold on the cover to keep you focused! Then log your progress every day. It doesn*t matter if you write one word or a whole page full; this helps you focus on the process. Have a set back? Just look back at how far you've come, realize that everyone screw*s up and start all over again!

2. Set short term goals. Do you remember the Bill Murray comedy, *What About Bob?* (Really funny movie, rent it!!!) He played Dr. Marvin, a phycotherapist treating a recluse with every paranoia under the sun. Dr. Marvin*s book, *Baby Steps!* helped the patient to step out of his front door and stalk the Dr. and his family on their vacation. Just like Dr. Marvin says, take baby steps! Break your goal into small bite-sized pieces. If you goal is just a few steps away, it's easier to stay motivated that if it was miles away. Want to lose weight? Instead of setting you sights on 50 pounds, break your chunk into smaller chunks! Set your sights on 5 or 10 pounds at a time. When you reach your short term goal...

3. Reward yourself! When you reach a set point on your journey, treat yourself. 1 week without a cigarette? 10 pounds gone? What does your journal say your reward will be? A trip to the casino? A new pair of shoes? Set your rewards in advance and work toward that goal. But don*t cheat and reward yourself before you reach your short term goal. You won*t stick to the plan and you*re only denying yourself the happiness you will find in achieving your short term goal and getting your reward! "

Good, good points! Don't show this to the many new members at the gym though! Not that I wish failure on anyone, but I need more room at the gym!!! Probably another month or so?

heheh except Bill Murray was the patient ! Richard Dreyfuss was the Dr. :D

I always make the same new year's resolution -- quit smoking. Since I've never smoked in my life, I find it surprisingly easy hehhehehe

This year the only resolution i've made is TO KEEP DOING WHAT I'M DOING

I'm right with you on this. Hey new guy sitting on the leg press contemplating your navel, put down the clipboard with all your new exercises on it and actually try working up a sweat.

Hey sweetpea, no, I won't change ellipticals so that you and your friend can be next to each other and yack for twenty minutes.

I'm not sure I've got another month.

Apparently my resolution should have been more patience. :)

I agree with the gym stuff. I took a class last night that I've taken every week for months and last night it was so crowded! I felt like I had no room to move around! Can't wait to have my gym back.

Oh, I've noticed these same events! I like it when the gym is almost empty, which is why I tend to go around 9ish at night. Not this week, the place is full even at 10! UGH! And my WW meeting? Good heavens! It's usually about 1/2 full, but this weekend....1st Saturday of the new year....not only was it full, but extra chairs were set up and they were full too. I wish everyone the best of luck, but I'd like to have my personal space back! LOL!

Trazey, you almost made me spit out my sip of coffee! You are too funny, girl!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Honestly, my heart really hurts for those people who are at the gym now and at at the weight loss clinics who probably won't be there in a few months. I've been in their shoes over and over again. I wish there was something I could say to them that would convince them to not quit...to not give up on themselves...to know that there is hope. But, since I have been in their shoes, I know that there is nothing I can say. It has to come from within each individual person. Just like here at 3FC. We have so many new friends and so many returning friends and I really hope they stick with us and with their program. All I can do is cheer them on and be supportive.

No joke! My girls have been sick with colds, so I cannot go to the gym during the day (since they cannot be in the daycare there exposing all the other kiddos!). I went a night last week at 8:30 and stayed until almost 10. You would have thought it was 5pm! I'm happy as long as I can get an elliptical and not be stuck on a bike. I HATE the bikes!:p I intentionally went Saturday afternoon since the Seahawks were playing...expecting an empty gym.:o Well, there were hardly any men, but lots of women had had the same thought as I! At least it was a great game to workout to!!! We were all cheering and clapping out loud!