Don’t Let the Holidays Derail You, Start Now!

A common occurrence seems to happen every year for typical health club members and even dedicated ones. The holidays come and they start to slack off from their exercise routine and good dietary habits. Then they make the excuse that’s its too hard during the holidays and they will start over again after new years.

As humans sometimes we don’t realize how much control we have over our lives and with proper decision making and planning we can foresee and overcome obstacles that may stand in our way. With the holidays coming, its time to make a plan and stick to it, and create the momentum that will carry us through.

The first step is believing that you can do it. Believing in oneself has a huge bearing on behavior. You have to believe in yourself and use daily positive affirmations. One example could be “I am a healthy, lean and vital person. I will eat that way and live that way. I am in complete control of my health and well being.” These affirmations should be said in the present tense and with meaning.

Secondly, you must look into the future and anticipate the challenges and obstacles that may come your way and create a plan of action for you to be successful. If you know you will be at several holiday parties with many desserts, create a plan to eat a balanced meal beforehand so you will not be hungry and tempted to get sidetracked from your fitness program. If you know you have a certain amount of gifts to buy, plan to do a little shopping each day so that you still have time to make it to the gym. These are just examples and the solution lies within each of us. Remember every little bit you do each day is beneficial for your health and fitness, even if you can only do 20 minutes on the treadmill or in the weight room. The key is consistency and avoiding the on again off again fitness lifestyle that makes those goals so hard to reach. Failing to plan is a plan to fail.

Finally, you must execute your plan each day and each week. Everyone experiences minor setbacks now and again but you must remember that you are in control. Each week you should review how things went; celebrate your successes and make revisions if necessary. Focus on your goals and how your life will be different if you achieve them. As you become more successful your beliefs and identity will be reinforced, shaping your lifestyle!