The New Year is now 1/12th of the way over. How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolution?
If you made a resolution to get in shape and lose weight but are having trouble doing the work to see results, you’re not alone. The problem may not be with your willpower but with the lack of definition in your New Year’s Resolutions. At ICWA, we have some tips for refining your New Year’s Resolution so that you can get back on track…and we’re here to help all year long!
New Year’s Resolutions are nothing more than goals given a different name…and experts in a number of fields have researched goals to find out what makes people achieve some but not others. Goals that are more likely to be achieved share five common elements:
Specific—goals have clear targets
Measurable—goals can be objectively measured and provide a way to gauge your progress
Achievable—goals should be challenging, but they also need to be realistic and safe
Relevant—goals should relate to outcomes you really care about
Timely—goals have a clear time limit for when they can/should be reached
Applying these ideas to your New Year’s Resolution can help you refine your goals to give you an opportunity to re-start your New Year and journey to a new, fitter body.
Here’s an example of how to refine a New Year’s Resolution:
Resolution made January 1, 2017: I want to lose weight and feel better about my body.
Refined SMART Resolution made today: I want to lose 15 pounds and/or one pant size by Tax Day (April 17th this year).
The refined resolution has a clear target—that can be measured in two different ways—and time limit. 15 pounds of weight loss in just over two months is reasonable and safe. If you really want to trim some extra pounds and inches, then this goal is relevant.
There’s one more element to successful resolutions—involving a support network. Change is difficult, no matter how committed you are. Friends, family and the fitness pros at ICWA can provide the motivation and tools to help you keep going. ICWA has a number of different programs you can join to get the camaraderie and challenge you need to achieve your SMART goals. Contact us to learn more about opportunities to get fit with others or with a personal trainer.
