How Can I Stick To My Health Goals for 2011?

In a sentence? Eat peanut butter, chew bubble gum, and use lots of super glue.

No, but seriously...let's have a real talk about this...

Ah, the new year. With it often come new goals.
What are your new health goals? Perhaps you want to start including more fruits and vegetables in your meals. Or, maybe you would like to work on eating a healthy breakfast each morning.

Or, possibly, you are like many of us, who, although we have every intention of setting health goals, simply put the task off.

Whether you are in the first category of goal-setters or you are intending to set goals, here are a few things to keep in mind that will help, not only with health-related goals, but any goals you set for yourself:

1. Brainstorm: What did you intend to accomplish last year but never did? Write all of these things down on a blank sheet of paper, regardless of their seeming “impossibility levels.” You should include at least 10-15 goals.

2. Eliminate: Choose 5 goals from your list---the 5 that you feel are the most realistic in your current situation. For example, if you have the goal of including more fruits and vegetables in your meals each day, you might want to start out by reaching smaller goals, such as eating fruit at breakfast. 

3. Make a Plan:  Next to each goal, write down the obstacles that could prevent you from reaching it. Then, write down all the positive results of reaching each goal. With the results in mind, you will be better prepared to face your expected challenges.

4. Daily Reminder: Copy your goals, as well as the obstacles and results of each goal on a chalkboard, whiteboard, decorative piece of paper, or typed and printed paper (whatever form motivates you the most when you look at it), and post them a bit above your eye level in whatever location you find effective---this could be your bathroom mirror, the fridge, or your desk. This way, you can look up to your goals each day and remind yourself why you are working so hard!

5. Follow Through: Be determined to follow through with your goals. If you need to, turn up the volume on your speakers and play “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor! Listen to it (or whatever song motivates you the most) and envision the satisfaction you will feel when you reach your goals. Can you see it? If you can’t, turn up the music and dance around a little bit!

6. Don’t Stop: You thought we were going to stop at five, didn’t you? Well, this is only the beginning. Once you reach your initial goals, you will receive something in addition to the benefits you wrote down. Your motivation will increase to the point where you want to set more goals. Keep repeating this process for the entire year and see where it will take you! You may be surprised to find out just how much you accomplish (so save those papers that you write your goals on!).