How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

The New Year is a great time to make a healthy change in your life, but if you are struggling to keep your New Year’s resolution, you’re not alone! According to statisticbrain.com, 62 percent of Americans usually or sometimes make resolutions, but only eight percent actually stick to them!            

The most common New Year’s resolutions, according to usa.gov, include losing weight, drinking less alcohol, getting in shape, quitting smoking and saving money.

No matter what you resolved to accomplish these year, use these tips to help you succeed:

Set Realistic Goals: If your resolution is unrealistic, you are likely to get discouraged and give up. If you join a gym for the first time and resolve to go every day, it might be overwhelming. Start with two days a week, and increase it throughout the year as your fitness improves. If your resolution is to lose weight, start with five pounds, not 20. Small losses will add up as the year goes on.

Find Resources: Seek out the proper resources to help you be successful. If you want to quit smoking, try resources such as the American Lung Association (www.lung.org). If you want to eat healthier or lose weight, resources such as www.choosemyplate.gov will help you to make the right choices.

Find a Buddy: Find a friend with a similar New Year’s resolution and motivate each other. Go on a weight loss program together, join a gym together, or organize social events that don’t involve alcohol. According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center (www.healthywomen.org) people who exercise with a buddy are more likely to stick to their exercise program and exercise more often and for longer periods of time.

Record it: Write down your goals, and track your progress. If you want to save money, sit down and write a monthly budget. To get in shape, write your exercise plan on your calendar each week. To lose weight, write down everything that you eat and drink.  According to webmd.com, numerous studies show that keeping a “food journal” significantly increases weight loss.

Don’t Stress: We are all going to slip up at times. Don’t be hard on yourself because you ate too much at a party or missed a couple of days at the gym. Learn from your mistake,

It’s not too late to make your resolution a success. With careful planning, support from others and some self-motivation you will be on your way to a healthier 2013!