This New Year: don't feel the guilt of unkept resolutions...

I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions... I am more likely to make a resolution in the Fall when the pressure to make them is off since I often feel like the Fall is when New Year *should start*.  :)   And when I do make a resolution, I don't make a lofty one any longer that I know I won't be able to keep.  I have kept journals and diaries since I was in my early teens and looking back on past resolutions is both funny and sad. 

"I will lose 80 lbs. by the first week of June", I wrote in 2004.   I didn't.  I gained weight that year.  That was the year of my son's high school graduation.

"I will lose 100 lbs. by May 1st of this year" I wrote on January 1st, 2008.  I didn't.  I lost 12.  That was the year of my son's college graduation and I still wince when I look at the few photos of me on that joyful day.

In March of 2009 I wrote.  "I am going to reclaim myself.  I have 100 lbs. to lose.  I am going to lose 5 lbs. this month.  I am going to begin to walk again.  I will do this."  I lost 18 lbs. that month, I believe.  I began to walk 1/4 mile around the local high school track and was darn proud of doing it.  After the first five pounds were lost, and then the next five pounds, I celebrated 10 lbs. here on the blog.  And then the next ten pounds.  And then the next five when I hit 25 lbs. gone.  The small changes, the small goals, the rewards for small achievements gained worked for me.  I believe they will work for you, too, friends!

This year consider making just a small change.  Don't make a HUGE resolution.  Join me and my friends over at MeYouHealth and sign the Anti-Resolution Pledge.

Whatever your weight, health, or fitness goal is... I know you can achieve it this coming year if you believe in yourself and go for your goal by making small, sustainable changes and setting realistic milestones. : ) 

If you need help along the way staying the course, I'm only a tweet away and MeYouHealth has a great community of support at their Daily Challenge site and on Facebook. I joined the Daily Challenge community a year ago and have loved the small daily positive suggestions in my life. They're all about small actions making to attain big changes in the long run! :)

Happy New Year and New YOU, my friends!

Dream ~ Believe ~ Achieve!
Jan /
HealthyLoserGal

5 comments:

ff12a January 2, 2012 at 1:42 PM  

what an awesome entry. I loved and related to what you said! This year I am reclaiming myself... I am going to take full responsibility of my life. :)

Miz January 3, 2012 at 5:37 AM  

you rock.

Kat January 5, 2012 at 3:12 AM  

Happy New Year Jan! I agree with Mix. You rock. xoxo

Weird Quotes May 12, 2012 at 7:08 AM  

Postings are nice and good attention too. Sharing is a wonderful thing.

Meredith @ Dare You To December 28, 2012 at 11:18 AM  

I 100% agree that small goals are the way to go. Your March 2009 goal is definitely the type of SMART goals we should all be setting for ourselves.

I think of "resolutions" less as a goal to be attained and more of a lifestyle change or a daily occurrence. Last year I resolved to make my bed every day. This year I resolve to floss, stretch, and drink tea. I also have GOALS that I'll be setting on a monthly basis, to avoid the overwhelming, unattainable "resolution" downfall.

Anyway- I agree :) No need to make giant resolutions for 2013. Good luck with your small and achievable goals for this year!