What? New Year's Resolutions Again?

Here is a mid-year check for you: did you make a weight-loss goal as part of your New Year’s resolutions? Now here’s the million dollar question: did you accomplish it?

If not, then you would not be alone! More than 44% of all Americans vow to go on a weight loss program of some sort – but far fewer actually reach their weight loss goals.

And probably one of the biggest reasons for falling short of reaching a weight loss goal is that you may have not helped to set yourself up to succeed.

First and foremost, any good, successful weight-loss program needs to include a healthy diet combined with some sort of regular exercise. Unfortunately, this is often far from the reality of your day-to-day lifestyle pattern. And only by changing to a more healthy living lifestyle of habits will you truly set yourself up to be successful in losing significant weight and keeping it off.

So what do you need to do to help yourself? Here are a few guidelines to get you started - besides the obvious assumption of healthier eating!

1. Get the people around or find people around you to help support you emotionally. This can be any source around you providing they offer you encouragement and want the best for you. It’s great if you can find someone who is also actively engaging in a weight-loss program.

2. Are you being realistic in the goals that you’ve set for yourself? Trying to lose 5 or 10 pounds in a week or two weeks is sure to set yourself up for disappointment – and possibly even cause other health issues to arise. Weight loss is a long-term commitment to healthier living. Setting a goal of 1 or 2 pounds a week is not only much more realistic in terms of actual health effects on your body, but it is also beneficial in helping you make those “habit changes” that are needed in order to succeed in the long-term.

3. Like it or not, some sort of physical activity is necessary for enabling you to reach your weight-loss goals and keep the pounds off. But you don’t have to go to a local gym and work out – or make it a grinding, drudgery ordeal to be effective. Find something that you DO enjoy and make a commitment to do it consistently.  Riding bikes, walking trails, playing golf, walking the dog are all activities that can be combined with your weight-loss program and still be enjoyable. 180 minutes a week translates into about 30 minutes a day for 6 days a week – and more realistic when you combine it with something you have to do anyway (like walking with your pet or with your kids).

So if you didn’t make your New Year’s goal of losing weight – it’s never too late to start! Make a renewed commitment to start afresh, incorporate the suggestions above and pretty soon you will see the results of your success!