*NO NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR ME!*

Last week I was asked what my New Year's resolution(s) will be for 2015.  My answer?  I'm not making resolutions...and that's my resolution!

Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with making resolutions, I understand everyone is different, but I have decided I don't necessarily believe in making them anymore.

This comes after the past few years of making several miscellaneous changes throughout the year..so I figured, why wait until the New Year?  I will set some new goals, but I do that throughout the year anyways.  It's a new month so I like to go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate but not just because it's January 1st or because it's what I am supposed to do when the clock strikes midnight, but rather whenever I decide something needs to change and because I WANT to make the change.

For some reason, people commit to "change their lives" starting January 1st - not sooner.  If you think something in your life needs to change, why wait?  This year, as well as in 2013 and 2014, America's #1 resolution is to lose weight, but making a once-a-year promise to do so is NOT the way to go.  I am ALL FOR starting over and starting with a clean slate, but you don't have to (and shouldn't) put changes or alterations to your life on hold until the New Year or other "specific" times of the year, like a Birthday, or as a result of certain life changing events, like a death in the family.  Why not start as soon as you come to the realization and as soon as you decide that is what you want to do?  Get ahead of the game.  Get started before you set yourself back even more.  What's holding you back?

FUN FACT:  Over 30% of people give up their resolution before the end of January, and another 30% quit before the end of May.  In fact, only 8% of people regularly succeed in keeping the promises they made as the ball dropped.

So if you did make a resolution to get healthy in 2015 you want to lose weight, tone up, and get stronger, here is some advice that I will share with you.  A lot of this is no-brainer stuff, but sometimes people just have a hard time grasping it all, which is COMPLETELY normal.  I can hear you now..."I don't have the time."  Yes, you do.  No one ever HAS the time.  You MAKE the time.  Most people have lives, kids, jobs, dogs, families, friends, whatever.  Figure out and determine your priorities.  If you want one of your priorities to be to get fit and have a healthy lifestyle...well, it takes hard work, compromise, and sacrifice, but chances are, everyone will benefit from it, not just you.  So it's more than worth it!  If it's not one of your resolutions/goals, then I question why you are reading this blog post.

These 5 tips, in NO particular order, are helpful in making healthy living part of your everyday life - not just a one-time thing.

1.  Start Small.  Too often, people plan on making overly drastic changes to their lives, changes that they inevitably fail at sustaining.  People want immediate gratification and immediate results.  That's not how it works, unfortunately.  If you want to eat better, don't make your resolution to become a Vegan or to run a marathon - make it something like you substitute your whole milk in coffee drink with skim milk.  Or take the stairs instead of the elevator, park your car farther away from the front door of the store, go on family walks in the evening after dinner (and take the dog).  You can transform your body just by adding more steps each week!  It can be overwhelming at first, but you should start small.  Baby steps.

2.  Start Today.  Don't wait for January to begin your journey to a "NEW and FITTER" you.  Start immediately.  Tonight after dinner, walk around your block 3 times (it's a start!).  If it's too cold, walk on the treadmill if you have one, or pop in a workout DVD.  Get moving.

3.  Surround Yourself - Strength in Numbers.  Having friends and family members with similar goals will only make you more successful.  You are more likely to stick to your goals if you have others motivating you and with a similar view points.  Surround yourself with people who inspire, motivate, and push you in a positive and encouraging way.  You don't need to have a trainer - a buddy can help motivate you too.  This is where Accountability Groups come into play, which is how I got started with Beachbody.  I joined this PRIVATE group that included people, like me, looking to make a change, looking for support and motivation and HELP!  I actually joined my first group in the middle of the year, not at the beginning.  When you have people around you in the same boat as you and with the same goals in mind, it helps.  Having support works!  The support is undeniable and extremely effective.  Believe it or not, you're not alone.  Always remember that.

4.  Get the Right Tools.  A comfortable pair of tennis shoes, a pedometer, a FitBit, a blender, a support group, and a positive attitude will make eating better and moving more that much easier!

5.  Focus on the PROCESS.  That's exactly what it is...a process.  Embrace it and have patience.  This is probably #1 in my book.  It won't happen overnight so having patience is key!  Since we were kids, we have been hard-wired to be goal-oriented and expect immediate results and get that instant gratification.  That can actually hurt your progress if your goals feel too unrealistic, unattainable, or if you judge your success on the outcome of just one goal.  If you focus on the process, methods, and techniques you use working toward your goals; like how many steps you have added to your day, getting enough protein, healthy fats and fiber in your diet, and sleeping at least 7 hours a night; you will be more successful and there are plenty of studies and personal success stories to prove it! 
Will you fail?  Probably.  Will you hit bumps in the road?  You bet.  You may even want to throw in the towel several times over and over again!  That's why it is a process and if you picture yourself being successful and focus, you are destined to succeed.  It might not be pretty, and if it is pretty, you didn't make scary enough goals/resolutions.

It can be easy to get off track and that's normal, you just have to stay the course and get right back on.  Write your resolutions/goals down so you can see them and hold yourself accountable and then share what you write down with others so they can hold you accountable too!  Then keep them somewhere where you can see them.  Also...celebrate how hard you're working, the little successes, and how dedicated you are, BUT celebrate the right way.  It can be difficult at times, but don't undo all of your hard work at the end of the week because you think you "deserve" it.  There will be dinners out, Happy Hours, friends who can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound, and parties; NONE of which are worth sabotaging all of your hard work you are putting in to improve the quality of your life and be a better version of you!  Instead, treat yourself to something different rather than food or booze.  For example, get a pedicure, a massage, new shoes, or a new workout outfit.  This technique is a great self-motivator!

Change and new things can be scary, which is why I always say...ease into it (#1 from above).  Don't be shy to ask for help, guidance, motivation, accountability, tips, or support!  Most people need it and I would love to provide that for you!  There are always new Accountability Groups forming and I would love to support you during your journey!  If a private group isn't for you, no problem, I can still be your sounding board and support and motivate you anyways!!  We all have to start somewhere and I am always looking to add more to my own personal support group too!  It doesn't matter where you are in your transformation or how large or small your goals/resolutions are, everyone has their own journey!!

AND REMEMBER:  MAKE IT FUN and DON'T compare your process, progress, successes, failures, and journey to anyone else's!!

So I will end with saying, Happy New Year and may your year be filled with health, happiness, success, and lots of love!!!