As the new year approaches, health and wellness become top priorities for many Americans in the coming year. Getting fit and healthy consistently ranks at No. 1 on the list of popular New Year’s resolutions, followed closely by losing weight.
But every year, only a fraction of people who make a New Year’s resolution actually keep it — just about 8 percent, in fact. Gyms that were overflowing with new people in January become less and less busy as the year goes on.
Why is it so hard to keep New Year’s resolutions? There are a few reasons why so many people fail to keep their resolutions all year long, such as setting unspecific goals, making sudden, drastic changes and a lack of accountability.
If you want to make a New Year’s resolution you can keep, try these tips.
Set a simple, measurable goal.
In order to stick to your resolution, avoid the abstract (such as “getting fit”) and set a specific goal you can actually measure. For example, rather than simply saying you want to lose weight, give yourself a number goal and a deadline. For example, you could resolve to “lose 15 pounds by May 1,” or “exercise for 30 minutes, five days a week.”
Seek accountability.
Whether it’s your spouse, a friend, a trainer or a family member, find someone you trust who you can ask to hold you to your resolution. It’s even better if that someone has a similar goal and you can exercise together and motivate one another.
Plan your routine.
New Year’s resolutions often require making changes to your daily habits. As you may have heard before, it generally takes about 21 days to set a new habit. Plan out your days and weeks accordingly, making time to work toward your resolution. Set your workouts for the same time every day so you’ll get into a routine and be more likely to develop that new healthy habit.
Celebrate your achievements.
Take time to acknowledge and celebrate the milestones you hit along the way. If your resolution is to lose weight, treat yourself to a new pair of running shoes or a new workout outfit for every 5 pounds lost. In taking time to celebrate those milestones, you’ll find added motivation to keep working toward your goal.
Is your 2018 New Year’s resolution to get healthy and lose weight? If so, you don’t have to go it alone. McCarty Weight Loss Center wants to help you achieve your goal and see success.
In addition to weight loss surgery, we offer non-surgical services and support including nutritional counseling, metabolic testing and weight loss medications. Contact us today to see how we can help you reach your health and wellness goals for 2018.
