Join the Resolution

Make your Resolutions a reality! You may have goals this year to lose some weight, gain muscle and/or compete in a bodybuilding show. You might have other non exercise goals such as: to be more organised, save more money or even give up that nasty smoking habit! Whatever trophy you want to achieve, you'll need an action plan.

1. Be realistic
Being realistic in the resolutions you want to make. If you're heavily overweight and writing down that you want to lose 10kgs so you can be thin is hard to keep, and you're more than likely only stick to your eating or training plan for a few weeks as the changes aren't happening fast enough for you. Instead, you should develop a plan of action and make that plan a priority.

If you wish to start an exercise program, plan what kind of exercise you will do and how often. Make it a part of your daily and weekly schedule. But be sure not to set your goals too high, such as expecting to exercise every day for two hours. Don't say you're never going to eat any desserts ever again because that's probably unreasonable. Instead say you'll have no more than 2 treats a week.

Likewise, if you're already in a fitness regime and you want to take the next step to compete in a bodybuilding show. Give yourself plenty of time to get yourself in shape. Don't decide 6 weeks out from the show you want to compete otherwise you may not reach your desired look. Ask an instructor/friend/PT how much time they think you need to come in shape and take your time to get there. Set short term weight goals and be realistic of the shape you can attain. After all it took years for Arnold and Cory to look how they do!

2. Start with a 2 week habit.
It usually takes your mind and body 2 weeks to make habit forming pattern. Make resolutions that will be easy to keep and that you can stick to it for at least 2 weeks and that they do not call for a drastic change in your lifestyle. Resolve to start taking the stairs rather than the elevator in your office building, or to walk to the bus. If changing your eating habits is your resolution, then start by resolving to take nutritious food to work. Resolve to make a little extra food at dinner time so you can have it for lunch the next day. These little steps will help to get yourself into good habits and you'll more than likely stick to your resolution of better lifestyle choices.

3. Write it down Rather than just thinking about these resolutions, you should write them down so they become official. Write them down in the front of you training diary or a journal. Or if you need constant reminding of your resolution, place 'post-it' notes on your mirror, fridge or in your car to constantly remind you of your new goals this year.

4. Tell your friends to check up on you
Part of keeping your resolutions is following through. Mark down deadlines in your diary to serve as milestones. These will be checkpoints during the year to evaluate whether you've been naughty or nice. Alternatively, if you're not so good at keeping yourself in line, tell your friends and family about your resolutions. This not only gives you a support system in attaining your goals, it also adds a little guilt factor when you are being bad. And a little extra guilt to help you resist temptation never hurt anyone.

5. Reward yourself If you've been keeping your resolutions, give yourself a reward. Feeling good about yourself is not the only thing that'll keep you going, and you deserve tangible rewards as extra motivation. If your resolution is to exercise and you're keeping it up, buy yourself a new outfit for your new figure!

6. Don't delay
Stick to your resolutions right away, and take the necessary steps as soon as possible. As mentioned earlier, if you resolve to lose weight, throw out all the junk in your pantry immediately. If you promise to start eating healthy as soon as the junk food in your house is finished, chances are you'll just finish it all off -- and promise to start eating right after you stock up your cupboard again... and again.