Are you part of the 31% of the population making a New Year’s resolution this year? Data shows that the most common resolutions range from eating healthier and exercising to losing weight in general. So why is it that those of us that decide to take the plunge into gaining a healthier lifestyle in the new year, tend to fail miserably?
Here’s a hint, it’s not just because we’re horrible at health. It’s more because we make the “goal” of the resolution too vague. Or, on the other side of that, we’re just doing it because society, family, and even friends have hopped on the bandwagon. But don’t worry there’s a way to create and follow through with your resolution. The best part is that all it takes are two steps.
Step #1: Is Your Resolution Right for You
Like mentioned above, most of us set certain health related New Year’s resolutions sheerly based on societal pressure. In doing so, we are essentially setting ourselves up for failure. Why? Because we ourselves are not invested in the overall outcome and therefore when we fall off we start to put it off.
So, how can we determine if our healthy New Year’s Resolution will stick? Ask yourself three things. First, am I doing this because someone else told me I should? Second, am I being too vague with what I want to accomplish? And finally, is there a realistic plan I can put into place so that I can succeed at achieving my resolution goals?
If you answered yes to the first and second question and no to the final question. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. However, you may want to re-evaluate what your healthy New Year’s resolution really is before the year begins so you can achieve some fine tuning.
Step #2: Fine Tuning New Years Resolutions with S.M.A.R.T.
But what do we mean by fine tuning. Well, let’s use one of the generic New Year’s resolutions shall we. Let’s say our goal is to lose weight.
S (Specific): You know you want to lose weight, but you’re not really being clear on how much weight you want to lose by the end of the year. As a general rule of thumb, when done safely. The average person can lose between 1 and 2 pounds per week. If you factor in a couple of buffer weeks that means that ideally you can lose around 50 to 100 pounds safely in a year. So, therefore your new and improved healthy New Year’s resolution may be that you want to lose 50 pounds of weight by the end of December in the new year.
M (Measureable): Now, this is a no brainer for those that are essentially trying to lose weight. But you’ll want to be able to measure your progress. Keep in mind that this is just to track, not to deter. So if you have a setback one week it isn’t the end of the world. Now, how does measurement take shape when losing weight? Well, the most basic forms include weekly/monthly weigh-ins as well as taking your body measurements. In the most ideal sense, you’ll want to see a monthly decrease in weight of around 4.25 pounds. Weekly, that would come out to a little more than a pound.
You’ll want to keep a log to track your progress as well. This can be a written log kept in a planner or journal, it can be a note made on a calendar, or you can make notes on your phone. Essentially you’ll want to use whatever form of tracking works best for you.
A (Achievable): Now, just because you’re setting a goal to be achievable doesn’t mean you can’t have a stretch goal. It just means that if you’re attempting something too quickly and not seeing the results, you may end up discouraged. This is why in most cases you want to have your realistic New Year’s Resolution goal. In this case, losing 50 pounds in the new year. In addition to that goal, you’ll want to set a stretch goal. Perhaps that means that you’re shooting for 100lbs as your stretch goal. Or even 75 pounds if all is going well.
R (Relevant): This part of your healthy New Year’s resolution comes down to the why. Why are you doing this particular resolution? Are you doing it because it matters to you? Are you doing it because of someone else? If you don’t have a good reason for why you’re doing something then in most cases your resolution is set to fail.
That being said, maybe the relevancy for losing 50 pounds is that you want to be able to run around with your kids and not feel winded. Perhaps it’s for pregnancy reasons if you’re a woman. Or, maybe you just want to boost your self-confidence and losing that 50 pounds will do that for you. Basically, even if everyone around you can’t understand your why, you want it to make sense to you. Why? Because it only has to be relevant to you.
T (Time-Bound): The “T” in this acronym is as important as your “A”. This is because, while you want your healthy New Year’s resolution to be achievable, you also need to make it to where it is achievable in the corresponding time frame (i.e., a year, 365 days etc.). So how can you make sure it’s doable within a year’s time? Map it out. Map out how many pounds per week you’re capable of losing and see if losing 50 pounds is a possible outcome. Set smaller goals throughout the year and reward yourself when you achieve them.
Achieving Fitness New Year’s Resolutions with Paradigm
Goals are easiest to achieve when you have two things. One, a great support system and two, the right supplements to help you do the job. That’s where Paradigm Peptides can come into play. We are a high quality, trusted peptide, SARM, and research chemical manufacturer. We are based in the midwestern United States and serve clientele worldwide. Making us part of your healthy New Year’s Resolution can help you achieve your goals that much faster. Click here to start your journey today.