Several titles came to mind as I composed today’s entry; Fake it Til you Make it, No more Excuses, New You Resolutions, etc, etc.

I’ve got a lot to say, so let’s get started.

So many of us make New Year’s Resolutions. So many of us fail at them almost instantly. Why is that? I like to think it’s because of a few reasons, the most notable being that we often make a resolution into some grandiose affair when really it is not. A resolution is nothing more than a commitment we make to stick by something. It takes consistency, commitment, effort. Resolutions aren’t easy. Resolutions aren’t meant to be easy.

How to Keep Your Fitness Resolutions

Many different surveys on resolutions were conducted prior to the turn of the new year. Two New Year’s resolutions that appeared on most lists include spending more time with family and getting into shape. What these two resolutions have in common is that they require time, planning and commitment. Let’s take a closer look at how to keep your fitness resolutions. Are you ready to make the commitment? If so, get ready to reach your goals!

Make Realistic Workout Plans

You need to better plan your time when it comes to exercising, planning nutritious meals and to spending time with your family. For instance, maybe you can plan some family fitness activities so that you can maintain both your resolutions in half the amount of time. Don’t fall into the trap of planning your workout time around when you have the most energy to exercise. Let me explain.

Most people avoid exercising first thing in the morning because they lack the zest or bounce in their step that they feel during their Saturday afternoon workout. Instead, they prefer to plan their workouts during work hours at a nearby gym or in the evening. Both options are great, if you follow through. Since most people tend to repeat their fitness New Year’s resolutions every year, let me ask you a question: In the past years, did you plan to exercise more regularly? Did you follow through? If not, what was the main challenge that prevented you from meeting your goals? Once you identify your limitations, you have also identified your strengths. If you would like to work out during your lunch and make a commitment to following through, obstacles will always arise to alter your plans. To successfully stick to your plans, you should always devise alternative plans which still allow you to make time for fitness in your day. Fitness centers know all about poor planning which is why the January hype is usually cooled by the middle of February. Make realistic plans and the chances of reaching your fitness goals and changing bad habits will materialize smoothly.

Stay Motivated

Be realistic and true to yourself. If you start and stop exercise programs all the time because something comes up or because you get bored, than you need to find something that keeps you stimulated and involved. You may need to take the plunge and sign up for 10 to 20 personal training sessions at your fitness center or have a trainer visit you at home. You may need to join a fitness center which takes all of the guess work out of exercising and provides free personal coaching to make sure you utilize your time on the circuit. Maybe all it takes is a few minutes a day until you are ready to commit to a formal exercise program. Today, we are fortunate to understand how exercise and healthy eating can impact and improve our health, well-being and quality of life. It is important to make time in your day for exercise. Start by adding a few minutes of exercise to your day. You will feel the difference and you will eventually be motivated to do more.

Before jumping into the shower in the morning, perform 3 sets of abdominal crunches, body squats and push-ups (modified or full body) for 15 to 20 repetitions. If you work in a building, try taking the stairs instead of the elevator as often as you can and walk for 10 to 15 minutes during the day on your lunch hour or after work. At the end of the day when the kids are in bed and you are ready to go to bed yourself, take another 5 minutes and repeat the same workout routine you did in the morning. Try and do it at least four to five times per week. If you are not really into body weight exercises, purchase an inexpensive piece of rubber tubing from your local sporting goods store and perform two to three exercises in the morning with the rubber tubing.

Keep a Journal

Keep a journal of your efforts, challenges and achievements. Most of us need reminders to help us stay committed. Journaling every evening for 10 to 15 minutes before going to bed is a great way to review your day and to remind yourself of the commitments you were happy to keep and the ones you had to let go. Journaling helps you focus on the present and helps you create a roadmap for the future. I know it helps me and reminds me every evening of my commitment to workout the next morning.

Accountability

Another major failing point for many people is that we have no problem letting ourselves down. Given that fact, make yourself accountable to someone. Share your journal online, or with a spouse or friend. Create consequences for failure. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself committed to a better you. I’ve heard people say “Oh, the gym is too busy!”, well then, buy an XBox, buy Your Shape Fitness; a personal trainer in your own living room! Technology and accessability are advancing at tremendous speeds. Yet no matter how progressive a healthy lifestyle becomes, we all can create excuses even more quickly as to why we can’t maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Whatever. It’s all decisions. There are good ones. There are bad ones. Each has consequences.

“What do you mean my liver is failing from decades of drinking, doctor? I guess I’d better stop overdoing it!” Sometimes that is what it takes before an alcoholic would change their lifestyle. By then, it may be too late.

Good health is the same way. Heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, diabetes, and countless other diseases and conditions are directly associated with poor health.

Seriously, why are you still making excuses?

Be Heard

So I’m going to lead by example, put my money where my mouth is. Here are some of my commitments this year:

1. By Fanfest I will have shed 10 more pounds of fat while increasing muscle mass
2. On May 8th, I’ll be running the Mercedes Benz 10k – might even win a car!
3. I’ll be running the 30k around the bay race on May 27th
4. I’ll then be heading to Ottawa the following day to run a full 42.2 km marathon
5. On Sunday July 10th, I’ll be doing the Peterborough Triathalon Sprint
6. I’ll make 100 kills with a Rifter
7. I’ll get most, if not all, of Path to Freedom published on my blog
8. I will successfully get my CanFitPro and ISSA personal training certifications and get myself some clients
9. I will learn to speak enough Japanese to survive my trip in December
10. I will actually learn how to use Cinema 4D in a “more than hobbyist” kind of way

So there’s ten goals. Want to know how I’m doing? Drop me an email. Write a comment. I’m not shy. Just ask and I’ll honestly tell you how things are going. Want to see photo uploads? Videos? Fine. Whatever you want from me for accountability.

And I’ll do the same for you if you want me to. I’ll kick your ass. I’ll check in on you. I’ll be there to help you keep moving forward.

I’m lucky really. I am surrounded by like-minded, motivating people that keep me honest with myself. When I screw up, I screw up. I dust myself off and keep moving forward, making more effort towards the things in life I want.

You deserve that too.