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What I've Learned About New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions are a great way to take some time to think about goals for the next year, but there’s reason to be cynical about them. As John Katsares, personal trainer coordinator for Ohio State University’s Recreation and Physical Activity Center says in our article, Make Your New Year’s Weight Loss Resolution Stick, the New Year’s resolution attendance ‘bump’ at fitness centers usually is over by Valentine’s Day.

I have a goal that I’d like to achieve in 2009: climbing in Yosemite. But I face stiff challenges, including fitness (I’ve had some injuries in 2008), time (I launched a magazine in 2008) and money (I launched a magazine in 2008).

But over the course of the last year, I’ve either been reminded of or learned about a few tricks to help me reach my goal. For one, the ultimate motivators are buddies and goals. My 2009 goal is stated and I have two people who want to reach this goal, too. Hopefully, we’ll keep each other on track. We also have mini climbing goals to prepare us for the big one.

I also learned about fitday.com, an online diet and exercise journal. And through an interview I conducted for an upcoming article on nutrition labels, I learned about mypyramid.gov, a comprehensive online form that allows you to track everything you ate today and see how it compares to the food pyramid – that is, how it compares to what you should be eating (according to federal guidelines, anyway, but that’s another story).

I started using mypyramid.gov and learned that my eating habits in the winter are far worse than in the summer – because there’s a lack of fresh food from my garden and diminished fresh food at the farmers market plus a desire to eat carbs and sleep all the time (thanks, seasonal affective disorder). I found it to be both a bit depressing yet the kick in the ass I needed to realize that I can still eat a healthy diet, but I have to try harder this time of year.

I hope these resources will help you reach your goals in 2009, whatever they are.

Comments

curatenie said…
good luck with your new year resolution! Mine is to learn how to play a piano :D
September 22, 2009 at 8:48 AM
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