Goals for 2012??

It's getting to be that time when people typically jump into their "New Year's Resolutions" with both feet..... Do you have your's set?

Some tips on being successful with your Resolutions this year:

1 - Only set a few goals at a time.

Use some triage, just think- it is a lot of work to make change in your life (you may have some experience in this department already, both successes and failures). Hitting it hard on a few goals that you REALLY WANT will make for better success in the long run. You can always update your goals when you knock these off the list!

2 - Make them Specific.

While "losing weight" and "spending more time with family" are very real and rewarding directions the problem is that you need to know when you have arrived at your destination- when are you successful?? You tell me which one is more convincing:

- "I want to lose 10 lbs." , or,

-"I am going to lose 10lbs of body fat, according to the WFI Fitness testing. To do this I am going to eat by sticking to the outside of the grocery store (having a list), and also incorporate an extra hour a week into my fitness training schedule."

- "I want to spend more time with my family, so I am not going to work as much."

- " In order to spend more time with my family I will only take OT a max of 3 shifts per month and when taking my annual holidays I will turn my smartphone off, only checking after the kids bedtime."

3 - Make them Acheivable.

Yeah, I said it. If you have been trying to lose that "last 50lbs" for the last 10 years, why would you expect it to come off by Jan. 31st? At a realistic 0.5-1.0lb of BF loss per week for a healthy individual you might want to take the slow and steady approach and keep it off for good. Setting bite size goals that are acheivable are very rewarding and encouraging. There's nothing wrong with being ahead of schedule if it happens, but in my experience if one is behind schedule.... well it can be downright crushing!

4 - They need to be Relevant.

Seriously, how do your goals relate to your life? Is it that you need to save more money, or spend less? Do you want to be Arnold big, or Brad Pitt lean? Are you prepared to do what needs to be done to get there? Is your family prepared for that?

5 - They gots to be Time Oriented.

Set a deadline, and stick it. "I will lose 6lbs of bodyfat by March 30th."- might not sound too awe inspiring but just think,

- How much progress have you made in the last 12 months?

- If you were able to achieve that goal and then repeat it 3 months at a time how long would it take you to surpass your previous year? Doesn't sound too bad anymore does it?

Goal setting, what a blast!

If you are in need of a hand nailing down some goals for the new year remember that you have the Fitness Committee members on your shift if you need. Or even ask someone you know that was successful in achieving the goals that you want to hit- often they are your best resource!

How does it go.. "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail". Whoever coined that phrase? I wonder if the person got told to shut up the first time they said it..... either way, whoever it was had a good point!