The New Year is almost here, and with it comes the opportunity for each of us to examine where we have been, where we are, and most importantly where we are going as we head into the future. After some reflection on our lives, many of us use the New Year as a chance to wipe the slate clean. We make a resolution to do something different or new with our life.

By far the number one New Years resolution most people make is to drop a few pounds and get into shape. Ask any health club manager and they will tell you stories about the mad rush of people eager to join their club. People full of enthusiasm that push their bodies to the limit hoping for instant results and magical physique transformations. More often than not, this enthusiastic crowd will return to their old habits by spring. Why? Because they didnt have a plan. When life throws you a curveball, its easy to get knocked off course. However, with a well laid plan and realistic goals, it is much easier to knock lifes curveballs out of the park and successfully follow through on your New Years resolution.

Before you begin your exercise and weight loss program, you need to determine what your goals are. The most effective method that I have used for this is called the SMART goal setting method. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timetable.

Specific - When you think about setting a goal, be as specific as possible. The more specific you can be the better. If you want to lose weight, how many pounds are you going to lose? If youre going to go to the gym, how many days per week will you go? How long will you exercise while there? At what intensity will you exercise? (Use a heart rate monitor for cardio; use a stop watch to measure rest periods, work intervals, etc.)