The other day I was eating my 112th cookie of the holiday season and thought to myself, "Eh - who cares? My New Years resolution is to lose weight and train more anyway. No big deal." Now, I know myself. I'm pretty good at sticking to a diet and training routine. Fortuntely, my job and schedule allow me to do so! But not everyone has that luxury.
 
Did you know that nearly 50% of all Americans make a New Years resolution? Of those 50%:
- 25% will fail at their resolution in the first week
- 29% won't make it past the second week
- 40% will quit in a month
- 50% will give up before the 6-month mark
 
So how do you make sure you won't give up on your New Years resolution?
 
We've found a variety of simple ways. (Have an idea of your own?) Comment on this blog post and we'll add it to our list and credit you!)
 
1. Put a picture on the fridge: Seriously!  If your goal is to lose weight, put up a picture of someone you admire or are lusting after to keep you motivated. It may sound cheesy, but it works! Every time you open the freezer to dive into another carton of Ben & Jerry's, the man/woman of your dreams will be staring back at you telling you to grab a celery stick instead.


2. Get a resolution buddy: Ever take a swim class as a kid? They make you team up with a swim buddy, so if one of you starts to drown, the other can call for help. The same basic principle applies here. (Minus the lifeguard and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) It always helps to have a partner around to help you out when times are tough.
 
3. Be realistic: Face it. If your New Years resolution is to challenge Brock Lesnar for the UFC Heavyweight Title by year's end, you're going to fall flat on your face. (Among other body parts!) Instead, strive for something that's more in touch with reality. For example, finally getting your BJJ purple belt or entering your first amateur fight are both worthy goals.
 
4. Reward yourself!! Abstaning from junk food all year can drive a person insane. So don't try! Instead reward yourself periodically. It will help satisfy your cravings and give you something to look forward to.
 
5. Plan, plan and plan some more: After the 8th beer and 2nd glass of champagne a man vows to write a screenplay, start Muay Thai kickboxing and learn to speak Farsi by the end of 2010. Does this scenario sound familiar? Don't worry, we've all done it. Just remember to plan ahead. Know what you're getting into before you begin your resolution. Poor planning can sink your resolution faster than the iceberg sank the Titanic.
 
There are tons of other tips out there to help you out. But we hope this short list will motivate you to keep up your resolution long after the ball drops. Good luck and happy 2010!