EDMONTON – It’s that time of year again when the gyms are packed with people who have resolved to work on their fitness this year.
But chances are, finding a free treadmill will be a lot easier in a few weeks. That’s because, according to a study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol in the UK, 88 per cent of those who set resolutions fail – even though half feel confident they’ll succeed.
Kate Andrews, a personal fitness training instructor at NAIT, believes resolutions can fail for these three reasons: people set too many goals at once, the goals aren’t based on intrinsic motivations, and they don’t have an action plan that fits their lifestyle.
So how do you make your New Year’s resolution of shedding a few pounds a reality? Andrews offers these tips:
- Make a specific goal.
That goal, for instance, could be running a half-marathon by a realistic date. Make smaller goals along the way (working your way up to those 21 kilometres) to help keep you motivated.
- Figure out the deeper (and intrinsic) reason of why you want to take on this challenge and keep reminding yourself of that reason.
“And ‘why’ is much more than ‘why do you want to lose weight?” said Andrews. “Do you want to have more energy?…Do you want to have more confidence?”
- Find something that you like to do and that interests you.
“What do you have fun doing? If you don’t have fun doing it, you’re not going to want to keep doing it.”
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- Make a good action plan for achieving your goal.
“Are you an accountable individual? If you’re not accountable, it’s best to work out with somebody, get a fitness app on your phone to help keep you motivated; and work with a certified personal trainer.”
READ MORE: How to achieve your New Year’s resolution
When it comes to nutrition, bring those left-over holiday chocolates to share with your co-workers and get rid of other temptations.
And rather than dieting, or relying on supplements, Andrews suggests incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet by making yourself a smoothie or juicing.
READ MORE: The skinny on juicing: what you should know
“We take for granted the Canadian Food Guide,” said Andrews. “A balanced diet based on the Canada Food Guide, which can be very tasty, is perfect.”
With file from Terry Elkady, Global News
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