4 ways to overcome your failed fitness NY resolutions

2015 is hardly underway and you’ve failed already. So what next? Let’s take a look at why you’ve ‘failed’ or even whether you really have… Here’s a few reasons why a typical resolution fails within the first few months of the year.

#1 - You were never really committed

Someone once said ‘Commitment means staying loyal to the things you said you’d do long after the mood you said them in has left you.’ Which kind of sums up this point. What feels right at the time when you’re in ‘New Year, new me mode’ just gets hard to stick with in those cold January nights when it’s easier to stay inside than grab your gym bag and head out. This first point might seem hard but if you really wanted it that much you’d have stuck with it longer than this surely?  So how much do you really want it?

#2 - Your resolution was too vague

Maybe you wanted to ‘lose some weight’, ‘eat better’, or ‘get in better shape’. Well they’re all just too vague. How will you know when you’ve achieved it? And what do they even mean? Maybe it’s time to start again but try and be specific. How much weight do you want to lose? Over how long? And how are you going to achieve that? It’s probably going to involve changes in your weekly shop, how you monitor what you eat, how you organise your weekly calendar. Get specific and get your goals. I would even go as far as writing them down.  Write what you want to achieve, how you’re going to do it (as specifically as you can) and most importantly how will you know when you’ve achieved it?

#3 - Maybe the changes were too big

Perhaps you just bit off more than you can chew.  That doesn’t mean you’ve failed.  It just means you’ve set your expectations wrong.  Making lots of little changes or gradual ones is much easier than one massive one. For example going from a diet of ready meals and convenience to a ‘paleo lifestyle’ overnight would always be a challenge.  Start small and make regular but gradual changes. When I started reviewing my diet and nutrition I started with the small stuff.  I replaced the gallons of fruit juice and smoothies I was having with water. I dropped the sugar from my tea, just small things but they led to bigger things.  Start small and build up. You’ll be amazed at how far you’ll go in a few months

#4 - Don’t mistake a wobble for a failure

Consider this image.  You might have just had a wobble but that doesn’t mean you need to derail your whole resolution. [caption id="attachment_3866" align="aligncenter" width="400"] The route to success...[/caption] For example I couldn’t get to the gym for nearly two weeks In January due to illness but I always knew I’d be back once I felt better.  I didn’t think ,“oh all my plans for the year are ruined what’s the point”. If you make a resolution it’s usually to change your life for the better and whatever it is that’s got to be a long term thing.  So play the long game and get back on track.

Who says you can only make resolutions at New Year?

If you ‘failed’ this year you don’t have to wait a whole year to try again.  Just start again but better. It would be great to hear from people who have faltered but got back up. Write your story in the comments, it might inspire others.