Is Weight Loss Your New Year's Resolution?

How many times have you made your new years resolution to be to lose weight? Once, twice, maybe three times? How about five, possibly 10? Okay, we get the picture.

And how many times has it worked?

I’m guessing if you’re making it yet again for 2014, then chances are it’s not been too successful in the past. Even if the weight has come off initially, you’ve dipped back into old habits, either due to boredom, complacency or fatigue, meaning you end the year in almost exactly the same shape as you started it, only to vow once again to lose weight next January.

That’s the big trouble with new years resolutions in general – they’re doomed to fail. And when it comes to weight loss, this is even more the case perhaps than with any other January goal.

Gyms are at their busiest in January, due to an influx of newbies. Seasoned gym goers know to avoid peak times in January, but if you’re not aware of this, the gym can feel more like being in a tin of sardines than having the luxury of a fitness club membership.

Not only that, but I’ll wager good money you still have plenty of Christmas food sitting around the house. Every time you go to the fridge, the tantalizing aroma of the Christmas cheese selection greets you. Bowls of sweets still adorn every coffee table, mantelpiece and spare gap on the work surfaces and that chocolate Santa eyes you evilly from his perch on the larder, just begging to be eaten.

Also, it’s highly likely you’ve been planning your resolution for weeks, if not months.

And during that time, all you’ve been doing is putting off starting.

Had you made an effort to lose weight, hit the gym and get on a diet plan back in October or November, you’d be going great guns by now. With a little discipline, Christmas would have been enjoyable, but not an all out binge fest, you’d have already made a start in the gym, and would be in much better shape than you are now.

All that being said, you can’t change the past, and a gluttonous December has happened, whether you planned it or not.

The key now is to make sure you stick with your weight loss resolution and achieve your new year goals for the first time ever.

First thing’s first – write down your goal. Not only should you write it down once, you should do in 10 times. Write it on post it notes, on small scraps of paper, and on massive sheets. Use different pens, colours and fonts – go crazy. The more times you write it down, the more likely you are to remember it and have it at the front of your mind all the time.

Read More: Effective Weight Loss Plans

Done that? Good. Now take every piece of paper and go and put it somewhere you’ll see it at least once a day. The biggest piece can go on your bedroom door or on the inside of your wardrobe. Stick a smaller one on the sun visor in your car, and attach others to the fridge, microwave or your hallway mirror. Now there’s no chance you’ll forget your goals.

Hints, Tips and Tricks to Killing Your New Year Goals

1. Tell People About It

The only reason people keep their goals and resolutions a secret is because they’re afraid of failure. The trouble with this is it means you’ve got no degree of accountability.

By not telling people what you’re looking to do you’re giving yourself a get out of jail free card. If no one knows your goals, no one will know when you fail. So grow some cojones, and tell as many people as possible.

2. Make a Schedule

Decided you’re going to train three times per week? Then do it.

Take your 2014 diary and plan in your sessions for the whole year now.

Yep, every single gym session you plan to do should be penciled in.

If you’ve got holidays, days out, meetings and trips booked later in the year, that’s fine, you don’t have to train on the same three days every week and you are allowed breaks. You may even have to change a few of these nearer the time, but chances are you’ll be able to make a good 80 percent of your planned sessions.

3. Be Antisocial

Not in general, but be antisocial in the gym.

Firstly, go at odd times. This means early mornings, late at night, weekends or during the day where possible.

By far the worst time to go is straight after work, between 5 and 7pm, closely followed by the morning rush around 7am. If you can train before 7am, get away from work for a few hours or train in your lunch, or even hit the gym late in the evening, it’ll be quieter, you’ll have fewer distractions and will get much more done.

If the worst comes to the worst, stick some headphones in, and just get down to business during peak times.

4. Have a Plan

Pick a workout plan and stick with it. If you’re entirely clueless about what to do, that’s absolutely fine, but hire a qualified, experienced trainer to set you up with a workout.

Many January gym goers fail because they don’t know what to do. Boredom is a factor too, so get your program tweaked every six to eight weeks, or if you hit a plateau.

The same goes for diet too. Whatever you choose to do, whether it’s counting calories and macronutrients, following a method like Paleo or The Zone, or simply trying to eat a little less and make healthier choices, have a firm grasp of what you’re going to do and persevere with it.

5. Make Mini Goals

At any point throughout the year you should know whether you’re on track for your ultimate goal. Something as simple as dropping 7 pounds by the end of January and 25 pounds by June, or wanting to be at 15% body fat by April and 12% by your July summer holiday gives you much clearer objectives than just “losing weight.”

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