Your Guide To Finally Achieving Your New Year’s Resolution

Welcome to 2012! Did you make some New Year’s resolutions? Did any of those resolutions have to do with getting in shape or losing weight? Did you make the same ones last year? If you are ready to finally get it right and make this the last year you have to make a resolution to get in shape, here are a few tips that will help make that happen.

First, raise your standards. The inspiration for this came from a lesson from Tony Robbins. Almost everyone is currently in the shape their standards allow them to be in. There are cases, due to medical issues, where people don’t have control over their weight or fitness level.  Most of us, however, are in exactly the condition we allow ourselves to be in. Our weight, size, and fitness levels are a result of our behavior: activity (or lack thereof) and food choices.

When you raise your standards, the first thing that happens is that it turns your “shoulds” into “musts”. Instead of thinking “I should exercise today,” you think “I MUST exercise today.” Instead of thinking “I should get the baked fish instead of the fettuccine Alfredo,” you think “I MUST make a healthier eating choice.” If you start to think of yourself as a healthy, fit person and start expecting yourself to act like one too, your actions will reflect that.

Stop accepting half-hearted efforts at exercise and “kind of” eating better. You are capable of so much more. Raise your standards and enjoy the results.

Secondly, focus on the process. I talk all the time about the importance of setting goals.  A goal needs to be measurable and it needs to have a deadline. There are two types of goals that we focus on: outcome goals and process goals. An example of an outcome goal is “I will lose 30 pounds or more by June 1, 2012.” While it’s very important to know the ultimate outcome you would like to achieve, I encourage you to focus on the process goals for a while. A process goal is based on the actions that will help you achieve your outcome goal.  These goals must also be measurable and have deadlines. If you know that exercising is going to be a key part of reaching an outcome goal, a good example of a process goal would be “I will exercise for at least 20 minutes 15 times or more each month.” You can measure how many times you exercise, and you can measure a month. More good examples of process goals would be “I will eat at least one piece of fruit every day” and “I will make sure I have protein with at least two meals per day.” It’s important for you to use “at least” and “or more” because you want to give yourself the option of over-achieving.

If you spend the next year focusing on meeting your process goals, the outcome goals will take care of themselves. I hope these tips will help you make 2012 your healthiest and best year ever!

I heard this quote the other day from Jim Rohn, and it inspired me.  I immediately wanted to share it with you.  Why?  This quote applies directly to fitness and weight loss goals as well as life in general.

One of the biggest challenges I see our clients face when they start with us is self-doubt.  Usually they have tried more than once to lose weight, improve their health, etc. and it didn’t work out for them.   They question whether or not it is actually possible for them to have the body they want.

Well, like this quote says, we have enough proof and information from testimonials from our clients and from personal experience working with others to know that it is absolutely possible to completely change your health, lose weight and get in fantastic shape.

Here are a few examples:

Traci Harrison Before

Traci Harrison lost over 100 pounds with Custom Fit!

Stacie Inman Before

Stacie Inman lost 50 pounds and almost 9 inches off her waist!

Dawn Stevens Before

Dawn Stevens lost almost 30 pounds and 6 inches off her waist!

At Custom Fit we have watched people lose 30, 50, 100 pounds.  We have seen them get to the point where they no longer need blood pressure and cholesterol medications.  We know without a doubt that change is possible.

And it can be done at any age.  I will never forget a client named Jean who trained with us at age 86.  When she started her program, she would come in and use her cane to go from station to station.  Working with her trainer Diana, she made some amazing improvements.  By the time she completed her training with us, she would leave her cane at the couch at the front of the training studio.  When she finished her workout, she would pick up her cane, tuck it under her arm and walk out the door to her car!  It was so inspiring to see her commitment and the progress she made that definitely led to a higher quality of life.

My message to you today is simply this, “You can do it.”  You can reach your goals. You can change your health.  The evidence is there.  Experience proves it is possible.

From my own experience, I know that I am definitely in a better mood and happier in general when I am exercising regularly and making good food choices. How about you? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Trying to lose weight can be an extremely frustrating endeavor.  For many people, it has become, at least in their mind, an “impossible battle”.  They lose 5 pounds, then gain 6. Lose 15 pounds, then gain 12 of it back.  They yo-yo back and forth.

Challenges are everywhere.  People at work bring in donuts, cookies and other snacks.  We are constantly in a hurry, so we grab whatever is quick and convenient to eat or hit the nearest fast food drive-through.

We plan on exercising, but things come up.  Family members or friends need us.  Something at work needs to be taken care of.

So how can you win this battle?  What will give you the best possible chance of success?

Create a team to help you succeed!

As humans, we are much stronger in a group focused on a common goal.  Surround yourself with people who are working towards a similar goal as you are and people with the knowledge and experience to point you on the right path.

Start a group with co-workers, friends or family members and meet a couple of times each week to do something active and discuss your progress and goals.  Keep each other accountable.  Share your challenges and your victories.

If you need to, check out our programs at Custom Fit.  We provide a nutritional counselor, a private fitness coach, and a fantastic team of fitness professionals to support you.

If you have questions about how to structure a fitness or weight loss program, or challenges you are having, Custom Fit’s Lead Trainer Eric Patterson and I will be hosting a Q&A Session at Cafe 111 Wed. May 5th at 6pm.  Seating is limited so RSVP by calling 812.437.2378 or via email to tmaslan@cfpt.us

Remember, don’t try to fight this battle all alone!  There is strength in numbers! Give yourself the best chance for long-term fitness and weight loss success!

Pay close attention to what he says about the treadmill just before the 3 minutes mark.

Watch this and share your thoughts.