Lose 10kg, run a 5k, stop smoking… At one time or another, we’ve all made some form of health-based New Year’s resolution in an effort to live better. But how many times have you vowed to lose weight and then ended up eating pizza for dinner three weeks later? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone, because according to statistics, a whopping 92% of people who make New Year’s resolutions give up before ever reaching their goal. Which means if you want to be one of the 8% who succeed in 2018, you’re going to have to start doing things a little differently.
Find your why
Don’t just say you’re going to lose X amount of weight. Figure out why you want to lose the weight first. Do you want to be able to run faster, have more energy, fit into smaller clothes, finally rock a bikini? Being connected to your motivation and being able to visualise your end goal will make you more inclined to turn your dream of healthy living into a reality.
Plan ahead
So you’ve downloaded a couch-to-5k plan and you’re ready to hit the streets, but do you know what days and times you’ll be going, have you made a contingency plan for poor weather, do you have a partner that you’ll be accountable to? Plan your every move down to the last detail, and you’ll find your goal that much easier to stick to.
Make it a lifestyle
It’s become such a tired cliché, but that’s because it’s true. If you want to get to the gym four times a week, the only way you’ll stick to your resolution is by making training as natural a part of your routine as eating or sleeping. Schedule your sessions in as you would any other appointment, fit your life around them and make them non-negotiable, rain or shine.
Take it day by day
Or week by week, whichever works. The point isn’t to think of your overall goal in terms of years or a lifetime, but rather smaller, more manageable chunks that are easier to work with. You don’t have to quit sugar forever, just this week. You don’t have to stop smoking forever, just today. Soon all the days will add up to months, and you’ll find yourself living the healthy, energetic, vital life you’ve always wanted!
Think you have no time for the gym? Here are 3 ways to overcome your excuses!
