Happy NEW YOU !!!!

Success in life is not about a matter of inches or pounds-it’s when you start taking the first step toward a reachable goal.  New Years is a perfect time to recognize your true core desires to change the way you look and feel. Start Small--Quite possibly the biggest mistake people make is pushing the accelerator too soon. You can’t lose 20 pounds in a week. But you can lose one or 2. Taking smaller bites and chewing slowly have as much to do with goal achievement as they do with your mom’s dinner table scolding.

Here's a few helpful hints to get you started and keep you on track for the New Years.

Health isn't about Chance --it's about Choice.  Decide to be healthy.Success is a choice. You must decide what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it. No one else can, will, or should do that for you.

Stay Focused. A close relative to being decisive, but your ability to sustain your focus from beginning to end determines the timing and condition of your outcomes.  You don't have to be perfect  to succeed.

A slip is not a fall. The fundamental question is not whether you should accept failure. You have no choice but to expect it as a temporary condition on the path way of progress. Rather, the question is how to anticipate failure and redirect resources to grow from the experience.

If you bite ....write it. Not only write your goals down -but write down everything you  eat. This will keep you accountable and will keep your efforts to get healthy --honest.

Plan Thoroughly. Planning saves 10 to 1 in execution. Proper planning prevents poor performance. You must know that this is an energy equation.  You either have to take in fewer calories OR expend more energy to lose weight and keep it from returning . Hopefully, your plan includes both of these elements.

Shout it out loud.Nobody goes through life alone. Tell your family, your friends or associates- people whose wisdom, knowledge and character you respect to help you achieve your goals. This will keep you accountable as well.

Take Action Now. Success is not a spectator sport - achievement demands action. You cannot expect to arrive at success without having made the trip. Every time you eat a healthy meal or spend a few minutes doing exercises -will get you closer to your goal.  You need to act on it now and soon it will become a habit.

Reward Thyself. Rewards work! Think of what you will give yourself as a result of your hard work, focus and persistence - you deserve it! Remember, you should reward yourself with other things that you enjoy --instead of food !

Maintain Personal Integrity.  Maintain your commitment to your commitment. Set your goals, promise yourself that you will achieve them. Eliminate wiggle room and excuses. That's personal integrity!  There are going to be days that you are not going to be as healthy as you want --and you have to tell yourself ...SO WHAT.  Choose a healthier choice the next meal or the next day and keep your progression moving forward.  That's how you win ...at losing !

When you meld all of these habits together, let’s not lose perspective of the energy balance equation. Losing weight is about physics and science.  You need to burn more calories than you take in.  It's that simple.