By Jordan Green
BAY CITY– It’s the third week of January and if you’re the average person, your yearly resolution is long gone. But don’t worry, you’re among friends — 80% will fail to achieve their goals, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Resolutions are usually centered around building a healthier lifestyle. It seems like an attainable goal, but many people become unmotivated and neglect their resolutions.
Wellness educator and fitness coach, Alexandria Mahoney, blames this failure on poor goal-setting.
“I feel like most people set themselves up for failure when it comes to New Year’s resolutions because they do not set strategic, smart goals,” says Mahoney. “It’s important to set goals and a plan for the year. The more you plan, the more likely you are to succeed.”
Mahoney started her health journey eight years ago at fitness camps. She became a personal trainer and health coach for several gyms, as well as online — helping hundreds of people lose weight and adapt to healthier lifestyles. Now, she focuses on educating others in health and wellness.
When making health and fitness goals, many people often believe that their target will be reached in a short amount of time with minimal effort.
“Goals need to be specific, attainable, realistic, maintainable and time-oriented,” says Mahoney. “I think our own expectations set us up for failure — we tend to expect too much, too soon.”
The food we eat doesn’t help either. For those with busy schedules, they tend to stick to cheap and convenient foods such as takeout and frozen dinners. These products are usually loaded with fat and highly processed ingredients, leaving you feeling unsatisfied, bloated and craving more.
Mahoney recommends healthier, low-budget options, such as Greek yogurt, seasonal vegetables, turkey bacon, carrots, cucumbers and even frozen vegetables.
If you actually want to achieve your health resolution, consider trying one of these practical goals according to Healthline: eating more whole foods, sitting less and moving more, cutting back on sweetened beverages, getting more quality sleep, and finding a physical activity that you enjoy.
