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Tips for New Year’s Resolutions

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to lose weight? If so, you aren’t alone. Losing weight is the most popular resolution. Lord knows that it is one of mine every year. And, as this article on Beliefnet points out, it often takes listing a resolution for three years in a row before we actually follow through. I think it took longer for me: I’ve listed losing weight as a resolution forever, but I only actually started acting on it in 2007.

The article provides advice on how to have a better chance at following through with a resolution to lose weight:

Once you do decide you’re ready for action, be as specific about your behavior change as possible. For instance, it’s not enough just to say, “I’m going to lose weight.” That’s an outcome, not something that you do to arrive at the outcome. Better to say to yourself, “I’m going to allow myself one scoop of ice cream a night and not eat any sweets after 8 p.m.,” or “I’m going to walk briskly for 25 minutes a day,” or whatever.

That actually makes a lot of sense. It is in-line with one of Weight Watchers tips: have specific goals. This advice is definitely going to alter my personal resolutions.