Posted by Steve in Motivation | 26 Comments
New Years Resolutions 2010
It’s that time of year again! Time to reflect back on what you have accomplished over the past year and set your goals for the New year.
First off, yes I know it has been a looooong time since I put up a post here, and guess what? One of my resolutions for 2010 is to post at least once per week (even if they are short but direct to the point posts)
Why You Need to Make Resolutions
In the past week I have received 8 emails from various sites (Prevention etc…) all saying not to make a resolution for 2010. I think that is total BS.
I make resolutions every year and while most don’t stick I do benefit from everyone of them. Sometimes failing at something is the best thing for you.
Not resolving to change or improve on something in your life to me is the same thing as not having a dream or goals (resolutions are really just broad goals for the year). What is the point of living if aren’t working towards a better life for you and your family/friends?
Resolutions For 2010
Weight Loss
Weight loss, improving my overall health and fitness is always at the top of my list. This year I am mixing things up a bit though. I have followed a lot of commercialized diets and weight loss programs in the past. While I did see results with most of them, nothing really stuck. The weight came back.
I have enough knowledge and experience in losing weight that I have come up with my own eating plan. I have it all ready to go and starting on Jan 1st I will be following it strictly which should be fairly simple since it is tailored around my 9 to 5 lifestyle. I am still following the big workout plans, starting with Tony Horton’s 10 minute trainer as a fitness kick start which will be followed by the restart of P90X. (stopped early due to injury earlier this year)
I plan on turning the eating plan into a downloadable ebook, but only after I see the results for myself.
My goal for 2010 is to get under 180lbs and 17% bodyfat. Very achievable I think.
Run a Half Marathon
It has always been a dream of mine to run a full marathon. I have no idea why I hold that as my fitness holy grail, as I don’t always enjoy running. I’ve ran a bunch of 5k races and a few 10k’s over the past few years. But for some reason I have never committed to taking the next step and training for or running a half marathon. September 2010 I will complete my first ever half marathon. (either the Toronto half marathon or the Scotia waterfront half marathon)
Those are my 2 weight loss and fitness resolutions.
Just a couple of quick non health/fitness/weightloss related resolutions for 2010:
1. Increase my online income to $2000 a month (shouldn’t be too difficult)
2. Become consumer debt free (again). 2008 and 2009 were bad year’s employment wise for my wife and we had to stay a float with credit. The end of 2009 has been great and things are back on track 2010 will be even better financially.
I actually have a great system for dealing with debt and without it things could have been much worse than they were.
3. Increasing my online presence. Over the past few months I have fallen right off the map. Few posts if any, no commenting on my favourite blogs and I haven’t responded to comments on this blog for a while. I haven’t created any new sites/projects in a looooooong time either. 2010 that all changes.
What About You?
What are your resolutions for 2010? Are you even going to make a resolution?
Let me know what you think, I will be responding to all comments.
Steve
I agree with you those are great goals. As for me I am going to take another shot at running a 10k and this time I will be starting to run indoors instead of doing weights so often.
I also am going to try to improve my online income and take a couple of great vacations with the kids (planning will be key).
Looking forward to the weekly posts!
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Good luck on with the 10K .
I find that if I try to run the day after a tough weight workout that it takes me a good 10-15 minutes before my legs loosen up enough to get into a full stride.
I think I may cut back on the weights as I get closer to the half marathon date.
[Reply]
I want to take my fitness level up. I won’t last for 90 minutes when I play football. That’s make be being subbed. I will put more effort on endurance and muscle building.
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
I don’t think people really understand the amount of endurance it takes to play sports like football and basketball. I’m starting to play basketball weekly again and I know I’m not going to last the whole game. YET.
[Reply]
Wow, that P90X is crazy! I’m impressed you’d even attempt it. My resolution for 2010 is to find time to write more.
Happy New Year!
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
To be honest I was a little nervous to start it. I didn’t think I was in good enough shape to do it, even after the fit test that comes with it. But as long as you go at your pace and not try to keep up with Tony Horton and the gang anyone can do it.
As for your writing goal, my goal is to pay others to create content for me on my other sites and some new projects, Interested?
[Reply]
I think these are great and doable goals. Half marathons are great – you’ll have a blast!
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Someday I hope to be able to keep up with you Andrew. Have you hit the 100 lbs weight loss mark yet?
I’m really looking forward to the half marathon race atmosphere. The Toronto races are huge with tons of people from all over the world.
[Reply]
I love the idea of tracking your results. What gets measured gets improved. I set a goal to keep exact track of how many grams of protein I am consuming every day. I am starting with a high protein breakfast every morning to get things going.
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Absolutely agree “what gets measured gets improved” it works is the office and in the gym.
You can check out the link for some High Protein Breakfast ideas.
[Reply]
Very good idea! Sometimes the time really does just seem to slip away, and lesser priorities can overtake more important ones if we’re not careful! Writing it down will not only solidify it, it gives you something to check off!
[Reply]
My New Years resolution/goal is to lose seventy pounds by December 2010. I weigh 190 right now, but want ot wear my Grandmorthers wedding dress on December the sixth, for my wedding
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Congratulations on the wedding and 70 lbs in a year is totally do able as long as you start now and not wait until Sept. to get going
A friend of mine was trying to lose weight for his wedding in the summer. He lost 20 lbs pretty quickly by eating a can of tuna (mixed with light mayo onions and celery) and a single slice of bread for lunch everyday. He also drank a lot of water.
Big events like weddings and reunions are great motivators for losing weight.
[Reply]
My new year’s resolution is to cut down 2 more percent of fat. Right now its 6 % but i want 4 % body fat
. Its my 4th week of my cutting phase 4-6 more weeks to go.. Hope i succeed as most of the times i plan something but in between something or the other problem occure either work or social commitments. :d
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Wow down to 4% that takes a ton of commitment and a hell of a lot of chicken!
Right now I would settle for a body fat% that ended in a 4.
[Reply]
I have never made a resolution, nor have I ever made a business plan. I take each day as it comes, trying always to improve on what I’ve left behind.
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
I’ve never really made an official business plan either, but I do make it a habit of setting up achievable income goals and a plan on which areas I want to focus my efforts on.
I think it’s important to try and hit targets other wise how do you know if you have succeeded? (financially speaking)
[Reply]
Hmmm, I have just decided that New Years Resolutions are not for me. I don’t think you need to have a “New Year” to decide what you want to do – you should just do it. And “starting” something has not worked for me in the past either. Well, maybe I could say that “slowly changing my bad habits” would be a resolution for me…
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Good point about slowly changing habits. Some of those can take years to change.
I like to think of the new year as a new beginning. Starting new things has always excited me, one of my bad habits is that I have a hard time finishing things.
I fail much more than I succeed, but I gain much more from those failures than I do from the successes. I use “new years” as a way to reflect on what works and leave what doesn’t in the past.
[Reply]
Wow, some really nice ideas! I probably going to take some of them and try to reach the goals too
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I hope you do Kim.
[Reply]
I’m so impressed. Last year just took the fight out of me by April and I’ve been floundering every since. I took care of the debt last year, but I’ve been stagnant on most of my other 2009 goals. Is January 15th too late to make New Year’s Resolutions?
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 10:53 pm
It’s never too late to start. I play basketball with a 50 year old that kicks my butt every time we play. He decided to get healthy at age 49. He quit smoking and lost a bunch of weight. So it’s never to late.
Even Jan 21st
[Reply]
I would love to run a half marathon and eventually a full marathon. I should start training for one soon…
[Reply]
Steve Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Yes you should, they are no walk in the park. It should take about 6 months to be fully ready for a half marathon, depending on your starting point obviously.
Good luck!
[Reply]
i have made a big note of my new years resolution and good fitness is included in it. Following to get into good shape with healthy food and lessen junk food and sodas
[Reply]