I’ve started to hate New Year’s Resolutions time.

It usually means a ton of people come into the gym and sign up BUT NEVER SHOW UP AGAIN. While of course that helps our business, it annoys the crap out of me!

I HATE WHEN PEOPLE SET GOALS AND HAVE NO INTENTION OF ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHING THEM.

I mean why even set a New Year’s resolution if you don’t honestly have any intention of actually doing it!?!

So this year…DON’T BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!

Set out that resolution and make it specific. Make it measurable. Make it something truly attainable and realistic. And make it time-based. (Ever heard of SMART goals!?!).

The resolution “I’m going to get in shape this year” doesn’t cut it!

What does in shape MEAN? Does it mean losing 5, 10 or 20 pounds? Does it mean running faster? Lifting more?

DEFINE vague goals and make them specific!

And part of that definition should include a way to measure them. If you want to run faster, what time are you shooting for? How much faster? Or how much more do you want to lift?

Make your goal something that you can easily track so you can gain momentum with your progress or make changes if you aren’t moving forward.

Then think about how long you are willing to work toward this goal. Will you dedicate 3 months? Six months? A whole year?

You need to figure out how big your goal is and how long you have to attain it. Then you have to decide…”Is that a realistic goal for the time that I have?”

If you want to lose 20 pounds and are only willing to dedicate one month, don’t even bother wasting your time setting that resolution. THAT ISN’T REALISTIC!

On the other hand, if you are willing to dedicate for or five months to your 20 pound weight loss goal, you are WAY more likely to achieve it because your expectations are REALISTIC!

Ok…so if you’ve followed the guidelines above, you should now have a SMART resolution that is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-based.

So now what?

COME UP WITH A PLAN!

While it is great to outline exactly what you are going to do everyday until the day you complete your goal, that isn’t realistic.

Life happens and tends to get in the way.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared for all the random crap that will happen.

So how do you prepare for the unexpected?

Think about all of the habits you have now. What habits are keeping you from reaching your goal? What habits are helping you reach your goal?

Make some lists. Make a TO DO list and a STOP DOING list. Pay attention to not only the negatives but also the positives! Maybe you love to cook…That is a positive! Maybe you work long hours…that may be a negative since you might think you don’t have time to workout.

Then make a list of things that tend to sidetrack you. What has made you fall off the wagon in the past? Are you an emotional eater? Do you get stressed and eat? Do you skip workouts if you’ve had a long day? Do you not plan out your workouts ahead of time so feel like you waste a lot of time at the gym? Do you get bored easily but not change things up?

Do you do too much too fast?!?!

Once you have these lists, hang them someplace where you can see them everyday. Every day try to do the good things and avoid all of the pitfalls.

But also know that one “mistake” doesn’t mean you should just give up. Don’t let one slip up derail your whole program!

Remember that life will get in the way. You don’t need to be perfect because perfection is unattainable.

Shoot for progress – try to make each and every day better than the last.

Try to create new healthy habits and just remember that you may have bumps along the way, but that those bumps don’t matter as long as you get right back on track the next day.

Stop setting resolutions that you never keep. Don’t be one of those people who sign up for the gym and never come!

Don’t waste your time. Set a goal and reach it this year!!!