Sean Hyson

We’re more than a week into 2012 and people are already falling off the wagon. You’ve probably noticed fewer newbies in the gym than there were right after the ball dropped. You can argue that this is a good thing… unless you’re on the verge of joining them.

If you feel yourself starting to slip, maybe these ideas will stiffen your resolve.

You could be dating this chick. Not just in your dreams.

START A DREAM BOOK
Brian Grasso, a life coach in Montreal and former trainer to Olympic athletes, got me doing this. Write down five or so big dreams, but make them very specific and very emotional. Don’t put, “I want to lose 10 pounds.” You need to feel something when you read it back to yourself.

You could write, “I am 10 pounds lighter, my clothes fit perfectly, and people notice and compliment me.” Use the present tense so it sounds like the goal has already been achieved.

This goes for anything, not just fitness. Want to be in a relationship with a super model? Write, “I am in a loving relationship with a tall, thin, blonde who has D-cup breasts and a perfect ass.”

Ok, that’s a little superficial and it ultimately may not make you happy, but it’s your dream book, dammit! Use it as you will. Just remember to keep it specific. And there’s nothing wrong with shooting for the moon. Don’t limit yourself to small dreams that you know you can achieve. The really big ones are the only dreams that force you to get out and work for them.

Re-write these dreams every day. Grasso says you can look back at his dream books over the years and see everything he’s gone on to accomplish. This shit works! Believe in it, keep up with it, and it will shape your life. I’ve done this for the past few months and am already on the cusp of achieving two dreams that seemed a lot further off when I first dreamed them.

SET A HABIT
If you have trouble going to the gym, just get in the habit of going.

Just go. That’s it. You can turn right around and come home if you want. This is another tip I got from Grasso. After enough repetition of simply showing up to the gym, you’ll ingrain the practice of going. You’ll start to feel guilty about going and not doing anything and eventually you’ll train while you’re there. If ever the old adage “90% of success in life is showing up” applies, it’s to this point.

HAVE ABOUT 5 INGREDIENTS IN YOUR KITCHEN AT ALL TIMES
There are plenty of variations, but I like garlic, olive oil, lemons, some kind of herb (basil, rosemary, thyme), meat, and a vegetable. That’s all you need to make a lifetime of healthy dishes quickly. If you need to run out and get a special ingredient or two to make something in particular, that’s fine—at least you’ll have the majority of the recipe covered already. Learn to sautee, bake, and grill, and you’ll never go hungry again (or order chicken parm at 10 p.m.).

There have never been more reasons why you should achieve your goals than there are now in 2012. The knowledge is out there. The means to get it is at your fingertips. It just comes down to your willpower.

Don’t be the weak link in this chain.

If you have ideas on how to stick with goals, please share.