Can you believe that we are nearly half way through 2010? If you are like most of us time is passing quickly and those New Year’s resolutions you made in January are long since forgotten.  But is never too late to make a change, and by the time 2011 rolls around you will be feeling better.

            New Years is  a time when approximately 100 million Americans will zealously usher in the new year with several resolutions in hand.

            Where you one of them?

            If so, at least one of your resolutions was more than likely health related. According to a 1997 study conducted by the University of Washington: “Increasing the amount of exercise was the most common primary resolution, being made by 37 percent of subjects. It was followed by increasing the time devoted to study or work, 23 percent; increasing the consumption of healthy food or decreasing the amount of unhealthy food, 13 percent; reducing the use of tobacco, alcohol, caffeine or other drugs used, 7 percent.”

            With 60 percent of Americans dying from illnesses connected to overeating, lack of exercise and smoking, it’s no wonder health-related resolutions are the most common!

            However, it’s one thing to make a resolution, it’s entirely another to see that resolution become a reality. Studies indicate that those who successfully achieve any resolution or goal do the following three things:

1.  make a firm initial commitment,

2.  have a realistic strategy to accomplish it, and

3.  keep track of their progress, celebrating the victories along the way.

      Let’s take a look at each one of these steps and discuss how to implement them where health and fitness goals are concerned.

 Making a Firm Commitment

            In making a firm, initial commitment, you must seriously consider what you want to accomplish. If you want to succeed in attaining your goal, take the time to think it through and pray about it. Don’t roll out of bed tomorrow and decide (again) to lose 50 pounds in two months. That’s simply not realistic.

            The rate at which a person loses weight depends on a number of factors: diet, exercise, weight, age, etc. Losing weight slowly but steadily is healthier and can result in lifestyle changes enabling you to keep the weight off. A realistic weight-loss goal per week is about two pounds. Before beginning any weight-loss or fitness program, get clearance from your doctor and get his or her advice about the best way to achieve your goal.

            Then be sure to write down your resolution with a designated start date. Why? By writing it down, your resolution becomes a solid goal you’re moving toward rather than something you’re contemplating.

            As a Christian, keep in mind, too, you have an advantage in attaining your goal—you have God and His Word to help you succeed! So along with writing down your resolution, find and write down scriptures to support your goal. This will help you stay focused and in faith. Habakkuk 2:2 instructs us to: “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”

            Now once you’ve written down your start date, goal and scriptures, and you’ve prayed over it—you have made a firm, initial commitment!  Tomorrow we will talk about the next two steps.