Studies show that only 12 percent of those who set a New Year’s resolution will actually achieve it. For those who include fitness as part of the 2010 Resolution, Mitch Batkin, senior vice president of fitness at Sport&Health Clubs, offers five easy-to-follow tips to success in setting and achieving fitness goals.
“I want to work out a minimum of three times per week”
- Set achievable goals – winning the Iron Man Triathlon may not necessarily be realistic, whereas if completing a triathlon is a desired result, perhaps training for a sprint triathlon may serve as a good step in the right direction.
- Develop clear terms for your goals – for example: “I want to work out a minimum of three times per week;” “I want to replace my spare tire with firm abs in the next three months;” or “I want to prepare healthy meals at home five times per week.”
- Break down large goals into smaller ones – again, using the triathlon analogy, if you want to complete a triathlon, try first training to jog for 20 minutes or swim nonstop for ten minutes or ride a bike for 30 minutes. Creating smaller steps allows you to calculate your progress while also equipping you to take a bigger step.
- Explore alternatives to behaviors you wish to change – if you find you eat too much, replace junk foods with healthier, leaner foods and eat in moderation. Eating a quarter pound of carrots may satisfy the appetite for something crunchy, but has infinitely greater benefits to eating a small bag of potato chips.
- Find an appropriate reward system for yourself – even former Miss Bikini Universe, Melissa Hall, rewards herself weekly with a juicy burger if she accomplishes her goals first.
“New Year’s Resolutions traditionally offer us a chance to start anew,” said Batkin. “Many view it as an opportunity to leave the past behind. Likewise, for those who place better fitness on their list, it is a chance to leave their behinds in the past.”
The National Institutes of Health cites forty percent of Americans as being overweight. Sport&Health believes strongly that starting out the New Year with a healthy resolution – and maintaining it – is critical to decreasing the number of overweight Americans.