The Resolutionary War

Year after year after year, we all do the same thing.  We say “Next year I am gonna lose weight” or “Next Year I am going to make more money” or “Next Year, I am going to get that sore taken care of.”

And with our self-promises of next year being “the year”, we give ourselves a convenient excuse to take all of November and December off.  Because after all, next year it’s all gonna change!

But then next year rolls around and you have your resolution set.  And you do a pretty good job of sticking to it…for a week or 2.  But then all of a sudden old habits creep back and you are back in the same position you were in.  Waiting for NEXT year.

Sound familiar?  It should.  A new study showed that only 12% of people achieved whatever their New Year’s Resolutions were. 12%!!

That means for every 100 people to “commit” to change, 12 did it.  That’s pretty discouraging if you ask me.

And for the most part it isn’t really that your goals are unrealistic.  Usually they’re quite achievable.

The problem is you are running into battle unarmed.

You’ve had to make whatever resolution it is for a reason.  You’ve had some habit you could not break yourself of.  But all of a sudden you expect it to magically disappear on January 1st.  As the 88% of failed New Year’s resolutions will back up, that’s just not going to work.

Look, if you are trying to change something it’s obviously important to you.  Why are you setting yourself up for failure?  You need to be prepared for change before it will happen.  It’s like a soldier running into battle.  Yeah, he can be the most patriotic fighting machine with all intentions of taking down the enemy.  But if he just charges full steam ahead without bothering to bring any equipment or support, it won’t end well.  So if you are ready to “go into battle”, here’s what you need to do:

1. Gather Intel: This is probably the biggest culprit in the success or failure of a resolution.  You can’t go into battle just blindly firing.  You’ll fail every single time.  You need to  learn the ins and outs of your enemy and what it will take to defeat them.  And to do this, you’ll need expertise.  If you have a goal of losing weight, a trainer or a nutritionist would be a great start.  Want to make more money?  Then you need to learn what to do, perhaps from a business coach or a financial planner.  You may think you know your enemy, but there are experts that know them better, and you’d be foolish not to take their advice.
2. Battle Plan: You’ve got your intel now.  You know what it’s going to take to defeat your old habits.  So you need a plan of attack.  Maybe for years you’ve said “I am going to lose weight”.  That’s not a plan, that’s a dream.  HOW are you going to insure victory?  “I am going to lose weight by doing 3 strength training workouts and 3 cardio interval workouts per week, as well as following the meal plan from my INTEL.”  Now THAT’s a plan of attack.  You know what you’re attacking and how you’re gonna do it.
3. Rally the Troops:  Intel: Acquired.   Battle Plan: Set.  Now it’s time to assemble your army!  Can you try to go into battle alone?  Sure.  But what happens if you go down and it’s looking like you’re finished?  Your men (or women) come and pick you up and keep you in this fight!!!  If I was going into battle, I would much prefer having 10 people going with me than just myself.  So who is this army?  You need to assemble a team of those who you trust and you know will be there to support you.  It could be your friends, parents, siblings, trainer, nutritionist, co-workers.  Anyone who you know is pulling for you!  And you need to let them know your goal.  So when the time comes and you need to get helped back up to your feet, they’re ready to help.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Retreat: A retreat and defeat are not the same thing.  Sometimes the enemy will just pulverize you.  You know if you keep going like you’re going, it will be game over. You might take a vacation and eat like crap and not work out.  And for many this is enough to make you quit and lose the war.  But you’re not going to let that happen this time!  So fall back, regroup, and make any adjustments you need to your battle plan.  Start with step 1 over again as the situation dictates.  No war is won in one battle, and the best laid plans often need to be adjusted.  So if you feel like you’re losing the battle, adjust and continue the fight.
5. Celebrate the Victories: Sometimes, depending on your goal, the war can take several months or even years.  And it might feel like there is no end in sight at times.  Keep track of your progress and reward yourself at important milestones.  It will boost your morale and reinforce your new behaviors.  Is your goal to lose 50 pounds?  When you hit that 10 or 20 pound mark, give yourself something special.  Maybe some new shoes, an ipod, a massage, or whatever else you like .  Just make sure you pick a reward won’t hurt you in your fight.  If you are trying to lose weight, rewarding yourself with a new Lazy Boy recliner might not help your cause.

So there you have it.  A sure-fire way to win The Resolutionary War.  So let this be the year that you commit to finally making all the changes you’ve been putting off or failed at in the past.   And if you’re looking to lose weight and tone up, I’ve got your intel, a “No Fail” battle plan, and am ready to join the ranks of your troops, so just contact me at casey (at) caseygeorge (dot) com!

Casey