Resolution Solution: Getting in Shape

This is the year…right?

You'll eat less, exercise more, drink less and save more. You'll finally join a gym, give up your $4 latte addiction, and maybe even find the time to volunteer at a local soup kitchen. Ready, set…get real!

If you're like the majority of Americans, most of these vows will go in one year and out the other. So while such annual pledges offer the promise of a thinner, healthier, debt-free, more organized you, the odds that you'll actually stick with them for longer than a few months are slimmer than that pair of skinny jeans you'd like to fit in to. 

Adam Hakim, author of "The Frequency of Your Life" and a certified physical and craniSacral therapist based in Merrick advises people not to get discouraged. 

Psychologically, he explained, the start of a new year is a great time to grab hold the moment, embrace new possibilities and ignite the fires of change within.

"We naturally feel that we can let go of the past," he added. "So with that mindset, this can be a great time to explore releasing the mind and body of such burdens."

But while Hakim sees this as an ideal time to implement change, he said you can leave the word "resolution" back in 2009. Hakim, who takes a holistic approach to health and wellness, is also a firm believer in the power of positive thinking.

"Understanding our true desire for what we want is paramount in maintaining the commitment to achieve it," he said. "For example, someone may want to lose weight, but what they really want is to feel more valuable about themselves." So, he continues, a surface goal like losing weight, is simply the first step on the journey--one that becomes considerably easier when you've taken the time to clear the path. 

"Resolutions are only effective when we pause to understand what attaining this means to us on a deeper level, when we clear the old patterns that have been stopping us, and welcome a space in our life for what we want," he added.

But whether it be hitting the gym, giving up smoking, building our savings or getting organized, many of us can attest to the difficulties of breaking bad habits. In fact, studies show nearly 88 percent of our hope-filled resolutions end of failure and only 46 percent even make it past the six-month mark. 

So how to stick with it when the going gets tough? 

Susan Sachs and Wendy Scholfeld, owners of ABSolutely Fit, a personal training and spinning studio in Bellmore said that often its as simple as having someone to lean on.

"If you have an accountability partner and a great trainer your resolutions can absolutely be effective. If you don't think you have the willpower to go it alone, lock arms with someone who wants to help you reach your goals. Not only will they make a difference in your life, but you will make a difference in theirs." 

If you can't find a like-minded friend, Sachs and Scholfeld suggest investing in a personal trainer as part of your commitment to get healthy. A good trainer can help you set up a customized fitness program, provide step-by-step guidance and sometimes most importantly; a reason to show up at the gym each week.

As Sachs explained, "Our goal is always the same…to help people become healthier and more fit from the inside out and ultimately for them to feel great about themselves." 

These local experts insist that whatever your goals for the coming year, you have to remember that change is a process. While you may have woken up on Jan. 1 with the best of intentions, the reality is you aren't going to lose all 50 pounds by Valentine's Day.  So with that in mind, take it one small step at a time.

"In such a case, concluded Hakim, "every step is a victory, and the steps lead you down your path to your ultimate goal." 

Aiming to lose weight in the New Year? Holistic nutritionist Barbara Ann Grova offers 10 simple steps to slim down in 2010: 

1. Educate yourself or see a qualified nutritionist that can teach you about what food choices are best for your body and lifestyle needs. 

2. Set specific, reasonable and measurable goals. Simply saying "I want to lose weight" is too vague. But saying "I will lose one or two pounds a week 80 percent of the time is much more realistic.

3. Write down your goals and continually restate and re-evaluate them. 

4. Go easy, it's not a race. Keep in mind that positive change does not happen overnight, so release old habits one at a time. 

5. Plan ahead! Write a grocery list, plan your meals for the week, cook and freeze healthy pre-portioned dinners and keep a food journal. Being more food conscious will help you achieve your goals. 

6. Clean out your refrigerator and get rid of foods that have high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, dyes and colorings and aim to shop primarily on perimeter aisles of your grocery store. 

7. Gradually start an exercise program that you love. If you say you're going to exercise everyday for 60 minutes you are setting yourself up for failure. So at first try for 30 minutes, three times a week. 

8. Don't starve yourself. By skipping meals or restricting calories you'll end up running on fumes all day and are more likely to give into temptations, binge or overeat. 

9. Do not skip breakfast. It sets the metabolic rate for your whole day. So if you don't eat you end up storing calories instead of burning them off. 

10. Don't forget to reward yourself for your progress. We all need positive reinforcement and praise for our hard work, so do something nice (we're not talking about an ice cream sundae) for yourself!