With January in the rear view mirror and already midway through February, sometimes we loose all the motivation of a fresh start. Often we feel a sense of burn out and break those health based resolutions. Well, you are not alone! Below are some solid guidelines that may help you stay on track in making fitness a lifestyle, and not just another cliché New Year’s resolution:

• Please set a short-term goal as well as a long-term goals.  Weekly short term goals are great to set, such as: pounds lost, jeans fitting better, getting a couple of more push-ups in during a workout, adding 10 more minutes to your cardio, etc.
• Make YOU, your health and your wellness a priority DAlLY. Schedule your workouts so they don’t interfere with your job or your children’s schedule or other appointments you may have. This means you may have to wake up an hour earlier to workout, or you may have to use lunchtime or the evening hours…NO EXCUSES…JUST GET IT DONE!  YOU DESERVE IT.
• Eat whole grains, fruit, lean protein and dark green veggies and stay FAR, FAR away from sugars. Sugars help to ‘hold on to the fat’ AND they are high in calories AND they have a way of keeping you crave more.
• Drink lots of water. Water helps to clean and flush out the toxins, aiding in the fat loss process. Also water helps to keep you nice and full.
• Hang out with people who also embrace and respect their health.  Avoid people who try and sabotage your efforts. l’ve hung out with both types of people and found that the ‘sabotagers’ drain your energy…..’sayonara’! The ’embracers’ are positive people who support your goals and efforts and you can do the same for them.
• lf you are really craving that piece of candy or that cookie, then eat it and move on… DO NOT DEPRIVE YOURSELF. Remember this is YOUR choice to be a healthier you!
• Reward yourself when achieving short-term goals, such as a massage, a dip in the hot tub, a movie, a new top or a sexy pair of heels.
• Be mindful when you go out to eat at a restaurant. Order dressing on the side, fish baked with no butter, etc.
• Enjoy all that you have and be thankful you have the resources to eat wonderful, whole foods and you have the health and ability to exercise.
• One more thing:  resistance train, resistance train, resistance train and cardio!