Why Do Health Resolutions Fail?

Have you set yourself a 2020 resolution? What are your goals? What do you hope to achieve this year? I am guessing that most of you have mentioned some form of New Year’s Resolution. But is this really the best way to achieve your goals? Research has found that day 17 is generally when most people give up on their resolutions. So this blog comes to ensure that you’re not destined to join those that have scrapped their resolutions for another year.

So, why do we actually make New Year’s Resolutions? The origin of the practice dates back to the Babylonians who lived 4,000 years ago and believed that they would earn favour with the gods if they made promises to improve themselves so the practice is centuries old and is still practised by many today.

Research has also shown that making resolutions can actually improve brain health too. One study showed that having a modest goal to work towards, was actually healthier for you mentally than maintaining the status quo.

So why do New Year’s Resolutions often fail?

YOUR GOALS ARE UNCLEAR

Setting unspecific goals can make them hard to achieve. Try using the SMART principle when setting goals – keep them Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic and Time-bound. As fitness professionals we are trained to use the SMART principles when working with clients and setting short-term, medium-term and long-term goals to ensure they are achievable.

YOU FEEL OVERWHELMED

Change can seem daunting. Where do you start on your health and fitness journey? Which gym? Which diet do you choose? What exercise will help you achieve your goals? This is the exact reason that Kate Campbell Fitness offers Focus on Change or Focus on Fitness Starter Experiences, both of these one-time introductory offers have been designed to give you a taster before signing up to a lengthy contract and aim to help you choose the best gym programme to suit you, your lifestyle and your goals. The initial consultation involves a 1:1 chat with an expert trainer to discuss your goals, what you hope to achieve, your likes/dislikes, your motivating factors and how we can support you in over coming any previous barriers you may have had. Baseline measurements are then recorded to ensure that the goals are SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE.

GOING SOLO

Accountability plays a major role in how likely someone is to achieve their goals. A 2012 study from Leeds University found that people who worked with a partner to improve their diet and exercise were more likely to stick with it compared to those who tried to make those changes on their own. This is the reason that Personal Training is so successful and people continue to use the services of a trainer. At Kate Campbell Fitness we have a variety of personal training packages available, which includes couples and buddies training so why not bring a friend, your partner, your parents along with you.

YOU FEEL DISCOURAGED

Everyone is looking for fast results and when the progress is not seen instantly, people become discouraged. Here at Kate Campbell Fitness our job as Personal Trainers and Fitness Instructors is to manage expectations, support you on your journey and celebrate every step, whether that be a huge weight loss or a commitment to attending your weekly session.

YOU’RE NOT READY TO CHANGE

Again, perhaps your goal is unrealistic, not specific or measurable, this is going to make it hard to start working towards your goal let alone make it achievable. Kate Campbell Fitness staff are used to dealing with clients at various stages of the health and fitness journey and will refer to the readiness to exercise questionnaire to help a client understand which stage they are at and help them identify strategies to overcome any barriers, loss of motivation, to avoid relapse and keep you on your journey by maintaining interest and commitment.

There is some proof that by just setting a New Year’s Resolution, even if you don’t achieve your goal, you can still improve. People who make New Year’s Resolutions are 10 times more likely to make a positive change after six months compared to those who make no resolution at all, according to Psychology today. So go ahead, make that resolution but let Kate Campbell Fitness help you make it a reality.