Health In Your Hands Issue #6 Winter 2013 | Page 6

T O U G A L O O C O L L E G E O W E N S H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S C E N T E R Tips on Sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions! By Robert Payne! What exactly is a New Year’s Resolution? It’s a “TO DO” list for the first week of January. So what can you do to stop yourself from giving up on your goals only to end up setting the same ones again next year when the motivational high returns? Here are five easy tips to help you keep going.! 1) Start small:! Instead of changing your diet all at once, try making small, gradual changes. This mentality will help you from getting on diets where you hate every second and feeling deprived. This applies for fitness programs as well.! 2) Get Support:! Some people do fine pursuing a goal by themselves but for others; having some support can do wonders. If your goal is to get fit, then partner with someone with similar goals or who have already developed the habit of working out.! 3) Aim for progress:! Improvements, no matter how small are a good thing. Keep in mind that your rate of progress will fluctuate and is much higher in the beginning. Actually, there will even be some weeks where you’ll go in reverse in terms of progress but don’t stop. Keep going.! 4) Re-Motivate yourself:! If you’re on that New Year motivational high at the moment, keep that feeling by writing all the reasons you must accomplish your goal. Better yet, record a video telling your future self why you need to keep pushing forward and not give up. ! 5) Be flexible:! There’s no point in continuing to do what don’t work. If you’re doing the wrong things, you won’t get the results you’re working for. That’s why you should measure the results you’re getting from your actions. Take notes of what’s working and what’s not working and simply do more of what’s working and less of what’s not.! If you stick to your goals and accomplish them, think about how exciting 2014 is going to be. At the end of the year, you will either be filled with regret and wish you had stuck with your goals or you’ll be able to celebrate because you did. Fitness is a lifestyle, live it. Don’t Stop, Don’t Give!! For more information on the Fitness Center membership, classes and programs contact Robert Payne, Fitness Center Manager at [phone] or [email protected] PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY! TOUGALOO SWEATSHIRTS! ONLY $15.00! VISIT OUR FITNESS CENTER BETWEEN 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM! (PRE-PAY ONLY) Member Testimonial ! “When I joined the Fitness Center at Tougaloo College in February 2013, I weighed 236 pounds, I was on an insulin regiment, along with diabetic pills and other medications. My goal was to get off some of the medications I had to take. I now weigh 214 pounds and dropping. I haven’t had to take insulin since July 2013 and my doctor has taken me off other medicines. I’m now working on my blood pressure. The fitness programs at the College have really made a difference in my life and health. Thank you Tougaloo!” Henrietta Brown Jackson, Mississippi Apply online today! www.Tougaloo.edu/admissions | For more information, call 601-977-7768 or 1-888-42-GALOO (1-888-424-2566)