03 Jan 15 tips to help you keep your New Year’s fitness resolution

Did you set a New Year’s Resolution? If so you have lots of company.
Statistics show that around 67 percent of people in the U.S. make a New Year’s Resolution and a great many of those involve people wanting to get more fit and/or making changes for the better in regards to their health.
Unfortunately, statistics also show that less than 20 percent of people will actually keep their resolutions and some studies have found as few as 5 percent of keep them.
Fear not, though, there are ways to greatly improve your odds of following through on your New Year’s resolution. Here are 15 tips to help you do that:
* Set small, attainable goals that can add up to big success.
* Limit your resolutions to a few that you can really focus on.
* Use the buddy system by finding a workout partner and-or asking for family support of your resolution.
* Walk or bike to work.
* Take steps instead of elevator.
* Socialize with friends using fitness.
* Pack your lunch.
* Avoid past failures.
* Stick with it at least two weeks.
* Create a game plan by mapping out how you’ll meet your resolution.
* Allow a few cheat days. It’s better to have a few slip-ups than to quit altogether.
* Get professional help if needed, such as consulting a personal trainer or finding counseling to quit drinking or smoking.
* Keep a workout log.
* Set up a home workout room by adding items such as a treadmill or elliptical machine, and-or weightlifting equipment.
* Be willing to work harder. If it was easy then everyone would keep their resolutions.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com