When coming up with fitness resolutions for 2014, acknowledge your failures first

It is just like alcoholics anonymous, you have to admit that you have a weakness in order to strengthen it.

I know where my failure is, food. I love food. Even though I generally eat healthy, I have a chocolate habit that is my downfall. I also disregard portions a lot of the time. 2014 is going to be the year I get really ripped, and step 1 will be cleaning up my food habits.

Be realistic.

It is much easier to quit when the goal seems unattainable. Last year, all I wanted was to finish with my weight loss, and fit into my wedding dress. Lifting heavy only started as an afterthought to the original goals. If you have 50 kilos to lose, put a realistic goal, not a time frame that will make it virtually impossible for a person usually engaged in other activities other than exercise and diet control.

In weight loss, acknowledge what your failings are. Are you more likely to spend a lazy weekend in front of the television than go out and meet with friends or window shop? Do you pay for a gym membership that you only use for one month? Are you always making excuses or babying yourself, saying you cannot do more because that is all you are capable of? It doesn't cost more to try, then again you have to try a little at a time so that you do not get overwhelmed.

Plan

A lot of people come up with resolutions. Fewer still plan on  how to achieve the goals. Take time to think it out. Are you going to clean out the junk food from your house and stock your house with healthy foods? If so, familiarise yourself with recipe ideas so that you don't get home and start to wonder at how you are going to come up with a healthy meal. Planning to start an exercise regime? What is the most convenient way for you to workout? Choose a time of day that you will be doing your workouts. If home workouts are it, do a bit of research, find out what works, what doesn't, what workouts need no equipment, which ones do and how much equipment. Are you going to get home workout dvds? There are so many out there, which one will suit you best? So many ways to get the same thing done, surely a plan would be a good thing.

Finally, know from the start that you will stumble, you might fall, but what makes us winners is getting back up, dusting ourselves off and moving on. No one's perfect.

Have an active weekend!