If you are anything like millions of other Americans, either “lose weight” or “get in shape” was near the top of your New Year’s resolution list.
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But, a common goal doesn’t mean common success. In fact, in this case, it means common failure. That’s right, 92% of people will fail to make their New Year’s resolution a reality.
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The question becomes then, how do you become part of the 8% that succeed?
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Start with this: recognize that “Lose Weight” is simply a terrible resolution.
Why would a health & fitness business owner say that? Well, what are you resolving to DO ? Because you can’t just tell your body to “lose weight!”
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Your body decides when it wants to lose weight, not you (that’s the bad news) … and it does it in response to your actions, not your desires. (that’s the good news – you can influence it!)
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Out of all the posts, blogs, updates, and videos I post, if you remember one thing, remember this:
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Body change follows behavior change.
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It does not precede it, nor does it come beside it. It FOLLOWS it. Every time.
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So why are we always trying to “re-position the carriage, instead of directing the horse?”
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The horse, in this metaphor, is behavior change, and the carriage is the body. Furthermore, your mind is much like the carriage driver. It’s resides on the top of the body and has the power to both choose and direct the horse that he or she selects. But the carriage (and subsequently the driver) doesn’t go anywhere that the horse doesn’t go first.
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Here’s an example of 3 common and well-intentioned resolutions, that just so happen to be doomed for failure, if they are not tied to actionable resolutions:
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Lose Weight
Improve Health
Get off Medications
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Why are they “doomed?” Because they are RESULTS of necessary actions, not the actions themselves.
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Think about it. You are resolving to see the results of certain actions, without resolving to take any specific actions. Crazy, when you think about it, isn’t it?
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Body change should be the RESULT of your resolution(s), not the actual resolution itself.
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With that in mind, here’s the 3 resolutions that will reward you with the 3 good intentions previously mentioned:
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1) Exercise for 45 minutes a day, 4 days a week
2) Record & review what I eat & how I feel, daily
3) Assess myself routinely and chart my progress
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Put a structure in place that causes the consistent application of these resolutions, and you’ll join the elite 8%
