The Perennial List

The Perennial List
A proud New Year stands before us, begging for a chance to take us by the hand and together turn the corner to a new and better life.
Problem is, we’ve been here before. We’ve got the same list of resolutions in our hand from last year, and the year before that.
Perhaps we’re more ready to turn the corner than last year, but lingering in our mind is the fact that year after year not only did our behavior not change, even this list hasn’t changed!
What you need is not another list of wishful thinking resolutions, what you need is a SOLUTION! You’re looking for a permanent solution not temporary fix to short term feel good.
Are you ready to LIVE in the solution mind-frame as opposed to simply wishing life were different?

How is a SOLUTION different than our annual resolution? In order to be a solution…
There must be clarity of where you are starting from and where you want to go. Only when you are brutally honest with yourself will you change.
a) Where you are- Just how overweight are you? what does your Doctor say? What size clothes are you in now?
b) What you want to live like the rest of your life? Burgers and fries are not a part of a thin person’s regular food plan, are you prepared to live like a thin person?
c) Why you are addressing this issue- what is your motivation? Why Now?
d) What are the obstacles that you must overcome to finally, once and for all conquer the issues. Is it time? Is it support?, Is it fear?, Is it money? Be Honest- if you haven’t had time for exercise, what has changed which will free up time to begin now?
e) When: Are you ready to change now, or just "fixing to get ready" again- The truth is if you’ve circled this goal several times, you might be ready to actually walk on it now. Think of it as "practice makes perfect"
f) Who: Can you do this alone or do you need assistance and accountability?
It must be focused on changing behavior, not just crafting a lofty, politically correct goal. Don't concentrate on movements in the scale. You should concentrate on the consistency of that which will move the numbers on the scale: your exercise regime. THe problem with the scale is that when it says what you want it to say, you will revert back to the behaviors that put you in trouble in the first place.
You must live intentionally- You cannot be on auto pilot. Don't let things happen to you, you make things happen. That means planning and organizing so it is easier to eat healthy and easier to exercise.
There must be accountability. You must give permission to someone to be brutally honest with you, to reel you back in when you stray. Find someone who gives you encouragement and recruit them as your partner.
Your program should be positive not punitive. Give yourself a positive future to move toward, picture yourself in a way that draws you to the future you desire rather than fleeing from a bad outcome.
What you do should build self esteem not tear it down, so quit talking to yourself in hateful negative terms. If you repeat "I live a healthy life" before every meal and throughout the day, very soon your subconscious will be repeating it back to you when you reach for that twinkie, and then put it back.
Your plan is three fold: it must involve activity, nutrition and life balance. You can't just change your food or just change your movement, but if you get all obsessive- compulsive what is the point? A healthy dIet and exercise should EMPOWER your life not suck the life out of you.
Are you ready to embrace your Solution once and for all? Change is accomplished in small decisions, made each and every day without looking back.
It is possible to permanently change, but you and I both know it is not easy. This article is written from a health and weight managment perspective but the principles transfer to any perennial goal you are stuck on.

The mission of Palmetto fitness is to empower you as you make positive and healthful changes in your life.OK! Here's my special offer to You:
Email Palmetto FItness Focus for a contract with yourself for living healthily in 2009 entitled "2009 IS MINE!" I will send you the contract free of charge. If you hit forward, and add your name, initials throughout, then send it back to me, I will hold you to it! You and I will be partners! I will follow up to remind you throughout the year of your committment to the changes in your lifestyle that will guarentee a healthy life.
Let's get those solutions started today! Request your 2009 is MINE!accountability contract