Functional Fitness
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Online Services
    • Personalized Coaching
    • Group Training Programs
    • Corporate Groups
    • Assessment & Analysis
  • About Us
    • Meet Your Trainer
    • Success Stories & Testimonials
    • Referral Policy
    • Cancellation Policy
    • Short-Notice Cancellation List
  • Shopping
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Blog Archives
  • Contact Us

Resolution Road Trip - What Lies Ahead (Day 1 of a 9-Day Series)

12/31/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
Well, the world was supposed to end on December 21st so na na na na boo boo to the Incan calendar and Nostradamus (yeah apparently he predicted that when “Gangnam style” hit a billion views, it’d be lights out planet Earth – Google it, you’ll see).

Well, we made it, and holy shitballs it’s January 1st!!!

Doesn’t the act of putting up the new calendar necessitate us getting busy making resolutions? 

I’m definitely not a descendant of any ancient  Andrean civilization nor am I of de Nostradame lineage (am I Dad?) but I’ll make a little prediction (actually I’m poaching someone else’s research here) in stating that only 8% of people who make new year's resolutions will be able to succeed at them entirely to their satisfaction.
Picture
Statistics from a 2012 study by the University of Scranton:
·   Losing weight is the #1 most common resolution;
·   46% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions;
·   76% maintain their resolutions through the 1st week, 46% go past 6 months;
·   39% of people in their 20's fulfill their resolution, while only 14% over the age of 50 do.

We do it year after year… in fact we’re encouraged to do it, but why do we so commonly fail at fulfilling our resolutions? 
(I’m going to continue by being a little more specific to fitness “resolutions”, but I do feel that these same thoughts are applicable to resolutions in other facets of our lives as well).

1.    We don’t set our goals appropriately.  Either we aim too high or too low.  We set out with an “all-or-nothing” approach, leaving us feeling deprived and frustrated, or we allow ourselves too much leeway, excuses creep in and before we know it we’re right back where we started. 
2.    We proceed with  too much gusto. You’ve heard the expression, "Rome wasn't built in a day"?  Well our goals aren’t going to be achieved overnight regardless of how gung-ho we are.
3.    We lack knowledge.  We think that the internet and/ or a subscription to [insert magazine title in the area of interest here] will garner us the knowledge that we require to achieve our goals. 
4.    We don’t see results fast enough.  Results take time and consistent effort.  It’s a marathon – not a sprint.
5.    We have no concept of improvement.  People fail to objectively monitor their progress.  Small improvements become overshadowed by the fact that we haven’t met our goal yet.   
6.    We lack true conviction.  The word “resolution” is defined as the act of resolving to do (or not do) something… the making of a firm decision, and undertaking this decision with determination.  But I think we’ve come to  place some mystical power in the word.  We’re led to believe that “if we say it out loud, then it will come to pass” and this gives us false hope and removes the need for the determination which is engrained in the definition of the word.  January 1st rolls around and “Oh, it’s resolution time again… hmm… what do I want to do this year?”

Unfortunately, changing a habit(s) takes effort – there’s no easy way to make it happen, no genie will pop out and grant us our wish, and ultimately the question arises, “how badly do you want it”? Unfortunately, far too often, not badly enough.
I was recently asked to write down 5 tips to help succeed in achieving your goals in the New Year… well, I didn't stop at 5 and I came up with what I feel are 7 valuable suggestions to help you set off on the right foot, beat the Vegas odds, and hopefully achieve what it is you’ve said you want to do.
My 7 tips for successful Resolutioning:

1.    Start now.
2.    Set goals and make a plan
3.    Enjoy it
4.    Think long-term
5.    Don’t think perfect… think  “better” 
6.    R&R
7.    Get help 
Over the next 7 days, I will discuss each one of these points in a little more depth, so stay tuned...

Please feel free to comment below, on my Facebook Page or on Twitter (#ResolutionRoadTrip).
1 Comment
Wendy link
1/2/2013 11:22:54 am

I couldn't agree more Chris. Great post! :)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Picture
    Thoughts from my rant-filled mind about our health, how nobody else really gives a crap about it, and ideas about what we can do to help ourselves.
    Picture

    Archives

    October 2016
    June 2016
    November 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    September 2013
    July 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    April 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

    Categories

    All
    Attitude
    Choice
    Christmas
    Compassion
    Diet
    Excuses
    Goals
    Humanity
    Lessons
    Life
    Lifestyle
    Nutrition
    Opinion
    Rant
    Resolutions
    Stress
    Success
    Suggestions

    RSS Feed

Connect With Us:

phone: (+1) 902.489.1427
​e-mail: [email protected]

1658 Bedford Hwy
Bedford, NS  B4A 2X9 
(we're located in the home of West Halifax Cheer)
Functional Fitness © 2001 - 2021 All Rights Reserved