We all ate too much over the Christmas and New Year period and a lot of us, I suspect, have made a New Year resolution to get fitter and healthier. It is well known that Gym memberships increase at the beginning of the year but attendance falls as the year passes.

A USA statistic for 2012 showed that 80% who started in the January quit within 5 months of joining; 4% by the end of January and 12% in February, with 67% never use them. Although the statistics are from the USA it gives an idea of how quickly good intentions can fall away.

Here are some top tips to help you keep the New Year Resolution going for the entire year and beyond. Good Luck.

  1. Forget the failures of last year’s New Year resolution – thinking about them can lead us to repeat the failure.
  2. Do you really want to change? – You have to WANT to change your lifestyle to succeed in improving your health
  3. Be realistic with your expectations – Don’t expect results immediately, build up gradually to succeed.
  4. Tell people what you would like to achieve – They can support you on your journey.
  5. Look at the whole picture – Understanding  why you need to improve your health and the cause of the failing. This will increase your success.
  6. Support – Giving up Smoking or losing weight? -Don’t do it alone. Find a local support group or a friend who is wanting to achieve the same goal as you. This will help to keep you motivated and provide encouragement when needed.
  7. Sleep – Try and get 8 hours good sleep. A study conducted at the University of Chicago’s General Clinical Resource Center showed that a lack of sleep can compromise fat loss by up to 55%.

 

References

www.creditdonkey.com/gym-membership-statistics.

http://www.statisticbrain.com/

Penev.P et al (05/10/2010) Sleep Loss Limits Fat Loss. Annals Internal Medicine  (Journal)  (http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2010/20101004-sleep-dieting.html)