Achieve Your Goals in 2013!
The holidays are over, a new year has begun and many people are starting out 2013 vowing to be a better, healthier, more educated, slimmer version of themselves. More than likely, you vowed this last year as well. Perhaps you succeeded with your resolutions, or perhaps they fell by the wayside as the year progressed and you got busy with everyday life. Either way, now is a great time to really commit to the changes you want to see in your life in 2013 and to work with the professionals who can help you get there!
Gerry Phelan with Midwest Woodworkers says, “I think most New Year’s resolutions tend to focus on some form of self-improvement. It’s that time when we look forward and start to think about a better future (and maybe feel a little guilty about the past). That can lead to resolutions ranging from losing weight to starting a new career and everything in between.”
Getting Healthier
Kristin Hain with Healthy Home Fitness states “The New Year often brings a new energy, determination and opportunity to many and health and fitness is one way that is easy to change and take control of. Of course, the media also publicizes the heck out of it, causing people to think about it that much more. In reality, the New Year shouldn’t be the only time we think about our health and take steps to improve it. However, after overindulgence from Halloween candy, Thanksgiving dinners, holiday parties and family gatherings, January kicks off a period of time when we can easily refocus on ourselves.”
Jeff Dousharm with Tiger Rock Academy knows better than most that most New Year’s resolutions to get healthier don’t work…at least not on their own. “Too often people think New Year’s resolutions have some type of super power and don’t take the personal accountability to make things happen themselves. One special type of resolution to consider is the fitness and weight loss related resolution. These usually fail by February because people don’t understand what it takes. Real health and fitness is about changing your lifestyle, not just making a resolution. The fad workouts and miracle diets don’t work because they aren’t sustainable. They promise complete transformation, but fail to deliver. The following are common reasons why fitness and weight loss resolutions fail:
• People go overboard when they first start and end up in too much pain
• Using stupid gadgets, celebrity endorsed diets, or magic pills they see on late night TV that promise results with almost no effort
• Poor nutrition (at least half of your fitness is what you eat!) • Boredom through monotonous activities or exercises
• No social interaction • Expecting real and sustainable results in 4-8 weeks
Kristin Hain adds, “Setting unreasonable goals is the number one reason why people fail on their resolution to get healthy. This may mean too much weight loss in a short amount of time, making unreasonable commitments to do something you don’t enjoy, or choosing a workout that just isn’t right for where you’re current fitness level is. Not having proper information and regular support as you get started causing you to feel alone in the journey. Also, many people don’t think about proper nutrition to go along with their fitness program. All too often we see people severely restrict calories thinking this will give them the weight loss they desire. While this may initially help them shed a few pounds, it will quickly plateau and could even cause them to gain weight back as the body is forced into starvation mode. Under-eating can be just as disruptive to weight loss and health goals as over-eating. The key is knowing how, what and when to eat each day and taking in the proper combination of lean protein, fruits, vegetables, complex carbs, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.”
“So the key is to find activities that give REAL results, engage people in a social environment, keep you motivated, educate you on nutrition fundamentals and are based on sound exercise science,” states Jeff Dousharm. “Everyone is different, so choices and results will vary as well. Some great options include martial arts programs, kickboxing, and yoga classes. Look at the major fitness themed programs such as The Biggest Loser and other competitive shows and you will find that martial arts moves, kickboxing, bag work, and yoga themed training are a very popular and effective segments of training. Whatever your choices are, do your research. Go check them out because just as I mentioned above, finding the right coach or the right instructor can make all the difference here. Find out if the instructors have credentials and experience. With the right answers, you can make the best decisions for you.”
As a Team Beachbody Coach, Kristin Hain can provide one on one support, guidance and motivation to help you get started and stay on track long-term. “We have many fitness programs to choose from for all ages and fitness levels, complete nutrition programs with each program that teach you HOW to eat, personal coaching, connection to a massive online support system and even opportunities to win $500 to $100,000 just for tracking and entering your personal transformation,” she explains.
Working with professionals in the areas of exercise and nutrition is the best way to ensure you achieve your goals this year. If you are considering supplements, visit with a professional who has the latest education on what works and what doesn’t and, more importantly, make sure you pair it with the right nutrition and exercise to develop a comprehensive lifestyle change. Taking a few pills or drinking a shake every day is not going to make you fit and healthy.
If you do best at achieving goals when you are stimulated by others, consider joining a gym or taking some exercise classes. Get a friend or family member to join with you so you can motivate each other. Choose a class you enjoy and that you are interested in learning more about and you’ll find that you’re having fun working out instead of dreading going to the gym each day. If you have a packed schedule or kids at home and can’t carve out the time to go to the gym, consider working out at home. Consult a professional who can set you up with an at-home workout system that you will enjoy and that will challenge you and do it in the morning before the kids get up or after they go to bed at night. Get your significant other involved for extra motivation.
The important thing to realize is that real change requires real commitment and a real lifestyle change. You became unhealthy and unfit over time and through hundreds of poor decisions. Changing this is also going to take time and involve hundreds of good decisions. It’s not impossible and it’s not even overwhelming if you take it step by step, day by day, and work with those who can guide you in the right direction and provide you with the information you need to succeed.
Start a New Hobby
“Resolving to learn a new skill or revive a long-dormant hobby is an excellent way to start the new year,” explains Gerry Phelan with Midwest Woodworkers. “We all have an inner urge to be creative. Sometimes that urge gets sublimated to the demands of everyday living, but it’s always there. Hobbies are a way to let those creative urges out. If a hobby or skill engages and satisfies, you should make time for it. I happen to think woodworking is an excellent outlet. It stimulates your creativity and is not as difficult or mysterious as you might think. Plus, you end up with projects you can use and display for years to come. It is really hard to beat the satisfaction that comes from making something with your own hands.”
He goes on to say, “Midwest Woodworkers offers classes specifically aimed at helping people get started in woodworking. Our classes are small, 3-5 people at most, and are very hands-on. We start with safety and make sure everyone understands the equipment and the techniques. Most of our classes involve making a project you can take home with you. And ladies, this isn’t just a ‘guy thing’. We see more and more women getting involved in classes and taking up woodworking. In addition, everyone on our staff is a long-time woodworker. In fact, we average over 30 years of woodworking experience. We can help with questions and we work hard to help everyone be a better woodworker. Our mission is to bring out the best woodworker in every customer. Give woodworking a try! Get so focuses on a project that for a while, you forget about all your problems. It will be good for you and you may surprise yourself with what you are able to create.”
No matter what your resolutions are, the important thing to remember is that you are trying to change and change is not easy, nor is it quick. Real change takes time. It’s about creating new habits, many of which will require you breaking old habits that probably took years to form.
Remember to take the time to find the right professionals to work with and give your resolutions the time, effort and determination they need to work! Here’s to a happy and healthy 2013!