So if the goal to be healthier and lose weight are so important to so many people, why do only 8% of resolution-makers ever succeed in their goal for the new year? There are tons of theories out there, but they basically boil down to the goals being too vague or too big.
What does this mean for your health and weight loss goals?
According to clinical psychologist Dr. John Norcross in an interview with NPR, keeping any resolution "has more to do with the realism of the resolution than exactly what the behavior is." He believes if you dream too big, you're setting yourself up for failure, and "if you can't measure it, it's not a very good resolution."
His suggestion? Stay motivated! "Reward your successes, reinforce yourself for each step with a healthy treat or a compliment, perhaps even create a reward contract with a loved one."
His suggestion? Stay motivated! "Reward your successes, reinforce yourself for each step with a healthy treat or a compliment, perhaps even create a reward contract with a loved one."
How to actually get to the gym in the new year:
Instead of giving yourself the vague resolution of "go to the gym more," make your goal a concrete number and have the self-awareness to not set it too high. If you never go to the gym now, you're unlikely to suddenly start going five times a week. Instead, choose something more manageable, like once per week, and slowly ramp up your attendance after you achieve that first, smaller goal.
How to actually lose weight next year:
The same goes for the vague "lose weight" goal. Set yourself a firm number and have a plan to achieve it. Choose something like "I want to lose 10 pounds, and I will do so by swapping my afternoon bagel with cream cheese for almonds or veggies." Sure, it seems more complicated than the simple, two-word resolution, but by being specific, if will be much easier to stick to.
So go ahead — make those resolutions!
Just be realistic and specific in your goals, and you're much more likely to succeed! You can do it!
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