14 Dec 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Your New Year’s Resolutions

Christmas is only a few weeks away, and New Year’s Day will creep up on us soon after that. Have you thought about your 2017 New Year’s resolutions? The vast majority of resolutions don’t make it through the end of January, and here are five reasons why that happens:

1. Making vague resolutions. One of the resolutions at the top of nearly everyone’s list is something along the lines of “Lose weight” or “Be healthier.” While these resolutions are made with great intentions, they’re almost always doomed to fail. The biggest reason for that? They’re too vague. Is your goal to lose five pounds or fifty? Do you want to lose that weight in three months or twelve? What constitutes “being healthier,” and how do you know once you’re doing it? If you want to succeed at your goal, you have to know what your goal is. And you have to be specific, or else your determination will get lost in the ambiguousness of the task.
2. Not having a plan. This piggybacks off of our last point. Once you have a specific resolution that’s clearly spelled out, the next step is to figure out how you’re going to get there. Skipping this part is almost as detrimental as making a vague resolution, so make sure you take time to sit down and figure out how you’re going to reach your goal once you’ve figured out what that goal is. Let’s keep using the example of losing weight or being healthier. To reach those goals, do you just need to exercise more? If so, how often are you going to exercise? Pick specific days and times and write them down in your calendar. Do you need to make adjustments to your diet? Write those adjustments down and stick them somewhere you’ll remember them, like on your fridge.
3. Setting the bar too high. So we have a specific resolution, and we have a plan for getting there. But what if your resolution is to lose 100 pounds in three months? Well, first of all, that’s not a very healthy idea. Secondly, your chances of actually achieving such a drastic goal are slim to none. What happens when you don’t lose those pounds by the end of the third month? You get frustrated and give up, even if you’ve made some progress. If you do have a lofty goal, try breaking it down into pieces. Instead of setting a goal to lose 100 pounds in three months, set a goal to lose ten pounds in two months. After you reach that goal, set a goal of losing another ten pounds. And then another ten. Take baby steps, not leaps. And don’t forget to celebrate your successes along the way.
4. Expecting to “find the time.” In today’s world, there’s no more “finding time”; you have to make the time. Consider that when you’re making your resolutions. If you’re trying to lose weight and you know you need to exercise more, you need to factor that exercising time into your schedule; if you wait until you have some free time to go to the gym, you’ll never make it to the gym, and you won’t lose weight.
5. Lacking accountability. When it comes to resolutions, the buddy system works wonders. An accountability partner is someone you can celebrate with when you reach milestones, and they’re someone you can talk to when keeping your resolution gets hard. They can also help you get back on track if you start losing momentum or motivation. Starting in January, LT Men’s Clinic can be YOUR accountability partner.

We’re excited to announce that we’re starting a weight loss challenge! As part of our program, your weight loss journey will be supervised by medical professionals who want you to succeed. We’ll track your progress and give you tailored treatment to help you reach your goal. Interested in joining or have questions? Give us a call at (817) 416-5698 today!