Realistic resolutions!

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2009. Let me challenge you to make THIS the year that you finally prioritize your health...for the FULL year (and hopefully beyond.) Almost everyone makes the annual resolution to lose weight and start exercising, but how many people are still focusing on this by the time February rolls around?  

This year, why not set yourself up for success? Create accountability for yourself around the time your motivation might begin to wane. Schedule a physical with your physician- for late February, or maybe March. Book  a few personal training sessions, and consider spacing them out to once or twice a month if finances are tight. Sign up for a race- it can be a walking 5K or a full fledge triathlon- but the point is to focus on a specific goal. Conquer that goal, and set another one!

Try to commit to specific, concrete changes. "I want to lose a bunch of weight" is much less helpful than "I will eat a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and veggies per day". 

Involve friends. Chances are you have one or two close friends or neighbors who would be delighted to commit to walking around the block together. Walking and talking seems much less like required exercise, and more like a stress release.

BOTTOM LINE: Look at your life and pick one or two very specific lifestyle modifications that will make a difference long term, and consciously decide what accountability you need to make them stick. Here's to a healthy year!