I’m a list person. I can make a list for pretty much anything; chores, groceries, people to call back, you name it. So making my list of New Year’s resolutions is a natural undertaking for me.  In fact, it has become an annual tradition. I can’t remember a year when I didn’t make a list of New Year’s resolutions, or multiple lists for that matter.  Sometimes I keep them, sometimes I don’t. I guess that’s the way it goes when it comes to resolutions.

What I’ve realized in my years of lists is that resolutions are about change, but true resolutions are about persistence. Real change happens in small persistent steps more often than in big dramatic ones. So this year, for the first time, I’ve decided not to make a list. No grandiose promises or unrealistic expectations. Instead, I’m just going to resolve to continue doing what I’m doing –  trying my best, messing up, recovering, evolving and enjoying the ride along the way. This way I can make small changes to improve myself without worrying about crossing big changes off my list.

Happy 2010 everyone.

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This is the time of year when we head back to the gym with resolutions still freshly in mind.  More often than not, the first thing we do when we get there is sign up for a fitness class.  While this is a great idea for a number of reasons, you are still faced with the decision of which class is the best for you.  Here are three quick tips for narrowing down your choices.

1. Mix it up: Look for classes that focus on interval training and that incorporate both cardio and resistance training. Don’t just burn energy (calories). Make sure you’re producing something with that energy.
2. Ask questions: Ask your instructor to tell you exactly how his or her workouts will build aerobic conditioning, endurance and strength. Ask how often you should take the class and when you should expect to start seeing results. Make sure the answers are in line with your fitness goals.
3. Look for the results: When you are in a good class, you gain real fitness that translates into real health benefits more directly than simply losing weight and body fat. If you’re not getting the results you want, look for a new class.

Follow these pointers and you’ll save yourself a lot of time and effort experimenting with fitness classes that don’t help you achieve your fitness goals.

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We’re often told by nutrition professionals about the importance of eating breakfast every day. Yet, despite this advice, breakfast is still the least commonly eaten meal of the day, which many of us try to justify by saying we either don’t feel hungry first thing in the morning or simply don’t have enough time to eat it. Whatever our excuse, if you desire to be healthy, you can’t ignore this advice any longer. Here is one reason why:

In many ways, modern living goes against our natural biorhythms. Our bodies were designed to wake up at sunrise and to go to bed at sunset. Unfortunately, this is not the lifestyle most of us lead. We tend to burn the midnight oil on a daily basis, necessitating that we set an alarm clock to wake us up, regardless of whether we were able to sleep well or enough the night before. Without sufficient rest, many of us depend on caffeine to jolt us awake.  While this liquid stimulation may provide us with a quick dose of adrenaline, it also uses up our reserves of blood sugar that we need for energy. As a result of this, within an hour, we are craving sugary foods to keep us alert. This vicious cycle may continue for the rest of the day as we crave more stimulants and sugar to keep us going. Eating a healthy, well-balanced breakfast takes us out of this cycle. Your energy will be more stable throughout the day and your cravings will be minimal.

Stay tuned for more breakfast tips including…

- How to feel like eating in the morning
- Tips on eating a good breakfast
- Quick & easy breakfast options

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The new year is here and health clubs and fitness programs want you!!!   They know that you made a resolution to shed some pounds when the ball dropped and they’re eager to capitalize on this ambition by boosting their memberships. However, you can use their desire to recruit you to your advantage by negotiating.

That’s right. The best deals for joining a gym can be had right now. All you need to do is walk into your local health club and negotiate the membership price. Chances are you’ll be able to lower or completely eliminate the initiation fee, lower the monthly fee and get incentives like free personal training sessions…  but you have to ask.

Another tip is to strike up these negotiations at the end of the month because the sales consultants needs to make their quota. If the sales consultant doesn’t budge on the price, then ask for some extras they could throw in like towel service, free guest passes or unlimited use of their other clubs. Their are deals to be had if  you press a little.  Remember, there is no reason not to try to keep your wallet fat while you try to get slim.

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I get excited every year when January rolls around.  The whole month represents a new beginning.  Not only is it a time of reflection, it is also an opportunity to craft a new vision for the 365 days ahead.

Several years back, I made the conscious decision to shy away from the typical resolution list (exercise more, eat healthier, etc.).  I decided to take a more holistic approach, electing to improve my mind, body and spirit.  This approach meant I had to do more than set some loose guidelines (which I would probably loosen and all but forget by March).  It meant permanently shifting certain aspects of my life for a full calendar year.

For example, one year I committed to completing 2 marathons, biking from San Francisco to LA, reading at least 4 books, and (perhaps the most challenging of them all) integrating self-compassion and removing critical thoughts from my mind.  This set of yearly goals demanded dramatic changes in the way I lived.  It made the entire year an incredible and challenging journey.

Through this journey, I learned that all the things we want to achieve in life are possible with full commitment. This upcoming year, dare to do more with your resolutions.  Write down what you really, really want to do this year and do it. Commit and be courageous. You may find that the year long process is more rewarding than the year end results.

Happy New Year.

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