Resolutions or Goals for your Healthy Shapely Body?

As always happens at the end of the year, there has been plenty of talk about resolutions.

Happy New Year - any resolutions?

But some people don’t believe they ever work.

In my opinion, that’s because resolutions are often wishes or hopes, not goals.

What’s the difference?  A goal is something you are actually committed to doing!

In our Weight Watchers meetings last week, we were encouraged to reflect on what we accomplished in 2011 and what we hope to accomplish in 2012.  And by the way, here is an an article from Weigh Watchers on how to keep New Year’s resolutions.

Here’s what I got on reflection.

What I accomplished in 2011:

1. Came back to WW meetings
2. Tracked part of the time
3. Improved my exercise habits

What I mean by improving my exercise habits, is that I started to exercise more and also added some higher intensity workouts.

What I plan to accomplish in 2012:

1. Exercise nearly every day
2. Track nearly every day
3. Get back to my weight goal

Now when I say “nearly” that may sound as if I am looking for an “out” but I am really just being realistic.  Being a perfectionist causes so many people to give up!

To exercise nearly every day, I realized I needed more cardio workouts.  That’s because you shouldn’t do resistance training on the same muscles again until 48 hours later.  Since my strength workouts are all total body, that means the in-between days need to focus more on cardio than strength.  So I’ve unearthed some old ones I liked, and also ordered new ones.  But I’ve also found some new, kick-butt strength routines too! (Try this Jillian Michaels routine!)

I also realize that I shouldn’t do higher intensity workouts every day or I will be too sore and get burned out.  So I’ve made sure to incorporate some workouts that are just a fun calorie burn but not too difficult, to use on those days when I am tired/sore/unmotivated.

As far as tracking, I may get lazier at the end of the week.  But I am really going to make the effort to do better.  And I’ve been hunting down new low-point recipes to help me see success at staying on plan!

I want to get back to my weight goal so I can attend meetings free and also get free online tools.  In fact, I intend to get to my official goal by January 28th (although I want to lose a bit more than that.)

I hope you set realistic goals to give yourself some direction.  I really feel like I have my walking papers!