One month down, eleven to go.  So, how did 2010 start for you? If you committed to take better care of yourself in 2010, was January a month where you made progress toward your goals? If you struggled to make change stick in January, then you’re in good company.  As frustrating as this struggle can be, there is good news:  it doesn’t have to be that way, for you or anyone else.

Take heart, 2010 can be the year in which you proudly proclaim, ” I’ve finally succeeded in achieving the change I desired this year!” But, you’re going to need a detailed plan (a roadmap of sorts). While I’m a big believer in having goals, writing them down and keeping them in the forefront of your mind, goals without a specific plan (with clearly defined action steps) are doomed to go unfulfilled. With that in mind, here’s a step by step process for you to follow.

Step 1:  Set Long Term Goals for 2010

Be as specific as you can. To say you want to lose weight or get fit in 2010 will do little to help you lose weight or get fit. But, a goal to lose 30 pounds of body fat by December 15, for example, will help direct your focus.

You must also attach powerful reasons as to why the change must occur. Think about the consequences of not reaching your goals. What will you miss out on if you don’t change? What are the negative  health implications for failing to change?  How will you feel, physically and emotionally, if you don’t change?

I know that this may sound a bit negative, but my experience tells me that people will do much more to avoid the negative than they will to experience the positive. This truth was driven home in a recent episode of The Biggest Loser. Contestants were shown the potential negative health risks for failing to change the way they were living. While I no longer watch the show consistently, this episode was the best I’ve watched in several seasons. Based on the poor health condition of each contestant, the medical staff showed each  the likelihood of significant medical problems down the road if they didn’t change their ways now. It made a significant impact on each of them. Failure was not an option.  You can harness this same power. What do you want to avoid experiencing?

Step 2:  Chunk it Down

Then, take your long term goals and break them down into smaller goals. I have found that four to six week goals are a good time frame. Repeat the same process of being specific, setting a specific due date as well as listing the consequences of failing to make the changes required to achieve these short term goals.

Step 3:  Develop Action Steps

For each goal, list the specific action steps you have to take to make sure change occurs. Identify general categories, then get specific listing specific actions you must take. In my opinion, this is where the wheels come off the cart for many. Without  knowing  the specific steps to take you’re  doomed  to fail, or at best, struggle to achieve limited change. Most find themselves here. They don’t fail for lack of desire; they fail for lack of knowledge. But, once you have the knowledge in the form of an action plan you can believe in, great things can happen.

Step 4:  Take Consistent  Action

Once you have a detailed plan you can believe in, taking consistent action to implement the steps in that plan is truly where the rubber meets the road. It may not be the easiest of roads to travel but it’s the road with the greatest reward.  It is after all the “The Road Less Traveled.”

Article by Glenn Beard, PT

Do you want to embark on that road less traveled and achieve the change you desire in 2010? Call Glenn at 407-208-0620 and schedule a complimentary fitness consultation  to learn how Fitness Together can make it happen for you. To learn more, visit www.FTOrlando.com.