Fit For Life: Set goals – Not Resolutions
Saturday, January 03, 2015
Matt Espeut, GoLocalProv Health +Lifestyle Contributor
I haven’t made a New Year’s resolution, and I won’t. I can't. I can't because I spend every day trying to self improve. What I do have are goals. I have a goal to be successful. I also have my own opinion as to what success is, and I take a step every day to get there. I put more pressure on myself and I do things that constantly push me out of my comfort zone, because I know that once we get comfortable we get complacent and then we stop pushing ourselves, and forward progress stops. I have a rough idea of where I want to be, and I have no control as to when it will happen.
Take responsibility.
I feel that by making daily or weekly goals, and accomplishing them, that puts us a day closer, and that's all you can control. Getting better doesn't have a deadline, nor is it a destination or a goal you can accomplish, and be done with it. Rather, it's a mindset that goes on - forever. Replace phrases like “I'm trying” with “I'm doing my best”, or “I can't” with “I'm going to attempt it”. Stop making excuses and don't blame others. Take responsibility for your actions.
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I consider a New Year’s resolution like a diet… temporary. We need to make life changes to be successful at whatever it is we do. Make more money, lose weight, be a better coach or parent. We need to be constantly changing and evolving in order to get better. We need to always try to learn from others by observing the things that were successful and the things that failed. Making some loose promise, just because it’s the start of the new year is not only ridiculous, but unlikely to happen. We need to strive and work harder to get better every day. OK, it’s fun to do, and I always encourage people to make goals, and set out to accomplish them, but they have more meaning and are more likelihood to happen when you set them on random days without outside pressure, or jumping on some bandwagon because everyone is doing it.
Set goals – not resolutions.
I usually set my fitness goals around my birthday, and tell myself that I will be in the best shape of my life by the time my birthday actually arrives, and on most years it becomes true, with the exception of a few injuries I’ve had, here and there. This method has been working for the past 10 years, because I learn more and fix mistakes I make every day. Now at 46, I am healthier and leaner than when I was in my 30's. Most of the time people need the January 1st date to undo the downhill spiral they started at Thanksgiving. That's all it is! We do so much damage from then to the end of the year, that now, we aren't making a "New Year’s" resolution, we are just fixing the damage caused by the holidays. The non-stop eating, drinking, staying up late, and stress, sabotages every body’s fitness accomplishments in just a few weeks! I actually challenged my Fit Body Boot Camp clients to a zero pound challenge for that period of time, just to try and prevent my people from losing their current results, and limit the amount of damage. Now the challenge for the next month is to undo the damage, then I will put them back on the "get a little better and stronger each workout" system I have developed. You see, even the new people that come in with a resolution will soon realize that they didn't sign up for a quick fix, or a temporary solution, because it is my job to change their mindset by establishing realistic goals and lifestyle changes that will stay with them for the long haul. All right, then, everyone should have one New Years resolution - and that is to try to get better every day…Period.
So what will be your reason? Find the motivation that works best for you. If you don’t have the motivation and drive to start it yourself, come to Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, and I will get you going. Working with a coach will get you there more effectively and efficiently. If one of these inspires you to get started, then go with it, but remember, ultimately it is your health that is at stake. And that impacts all the people around you – your spouse or partner, your children, your family. It impacts your ability to earn a living. Being healthy helps you have a positive outlook in life. You're more likely to be happy, in general. We all need to keep moving – the rewards just keep adding up – so, start now, and let me know what motivates you! Leave me a message on Facebook or Twitter….and I’ll share your motivation with others. We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one! (On Facebook at Providence Fit Body Boot Camp; on Twitter - @MattEspeut)
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