That's Fit

Each year on December 31st, we resolve to do something differently in the year ahead. And since some of us seem to be making the same resolutions over and over again, it seems we're not following through with these end-of-year promises. Or are we? I asked you that recently and here's what you had to say:

• 53 percent of you followed through with last year's resolution -- and stuck to it! Good for you.
  
• 19 percent of you followed through with it, but weren't able to keep it up. Bummer.
• 6 percent of you tried your darnedest but couldn't do it -- it was more difficult than you thought.
  

Kudos to readers jjj and Andy -- they resolved to lose weight and were successful. Keep up the good work, guys!

What's the best way to ring in the New Year? Why, with a bottle of bubbly and those close to your heart, of course. But not all champagnes are created equal.

Want to do your waistline a favour? Fitsugar has some tips on which bottle to choose.

Welcome to the last day of 2008. Is it just me or did this year whiz by at lightening speed? Besides breaking out a new calendar, you know what December 31st means -- breaking out some new resolutions. Last week, I was wondering what your healthy resolutions for 2009 will be, and here's what you had to say:

• 29 percent of you want to lose weight. We've heard this one before.
  
• 25 percent want to get in shape.
• 18 percent want to adopt more healthy habits in general.
• 6 percent want to take more time for themselves.
• And 13 percent say "All of the above!"
  

Whatever your resolution may be, do what you can to ensure that it doesn't wind up on your list next year, OK?

Still have holiday goodies hanging around the house? I know it's hard, but it's time to stick them in the trash. January 1st is just two days away, and we want you to be ready.

Is weight loss on your list of New Year's resolutions? Here are five easy ways to make that resolution stick, once and for all. Here's to hitting your goal weight in 2009!

January 1st is just two days away, so spend some time today getting ready for it.

You've fortified your weight loss goals this holiday season with a solid plan, extra workouts, and a dash of willpower.

But one thing you don't want to underestimate this month are the holiday diet saboteurs, well-meaning loved ones who can wreck your weight loss in a ho-ho-ho-hurry.

Luckily, Laura knows how to stop them, so pop on over to Holidash and see what she has to say.

I've always had my doubts about New Year's resolutions. They just seem so ... I don't know .... phony? Why try to make several big changes to your life once a year? Why not try to make smaller changes all year round? That's always been my philosophy--maybe it's because I'm not patient enough to wait until January 1 to do something I feel I should be doing now, or maybe it's because I've never been able keep a resolution past the first two weeks of the new year.

In any case, I believe in taking things slowly and trying to make your life better every single day. Every time the sun rises, it signals a new chance to take the right steps towards making things right.

So this year, I propose making new day resolutions -- each morning, when you wake, resolve to do something beneficial. It could be as small as crossing something off your to-do list or as big as performing a grand gesture for someone you care about it. If your ultimate goal is to lose weight, resolve to do something healthy--anything--every single day. I suspect you'll see some positive changes after too long.

What are your new day resolutions?

40% of adults make at least 1 resolution at New Years, and of those 2/3rds are health related. So are you trying to think of something this year? Narrowing it down to just 1 or 2 priorities can be tough because there are so many things to think about when it comes to trying to live a healthier lifestyle. But if you need help, or even just some ideas, the experts at WebMD have compiled this list of healthy resolutions designed just for men:

• Get fit. Men tend to focus on strength training to minimize their stomach area and maximize their chest and arms. That's all well and good, but make sure you're fit overall, meaning a well-balanced exercise plan that includes resistance and cardio training.
  
• Eat healthier. Sorry, but the 'meat and potatoes' thing isn't going to cut it anymore.
• See the doctor. Too many men try to 'tough it out' through important health issues. Know what you should see a doctor for (enlarged moles, blood in the urine, depression, etc) and then actually go.
  
• Quit smoking.
  
• De-stress. Men commonly bottle stress up inside (instead of talking it out like women do) so finding ways to make sure you're relieving stress in your life is important.
  

Health-related New Years resolutions are the most popular by far, but there are so many things to think about when it comes to trying to live a healthier lifestyle that it can be overwhelming to try and narrow it down to just 1 or 2 priorities. But lucky for us ladies, if you're struggling to think of a specific resolution the experts at WebMD have compiled this list of 5 resolutions designed just for women:

• Don't approach your diet as "all or none." Instead of telling yourself you can't have any carbs or sweets, plan to simply cut back.
  
• Step outside the box. Exercise isn't an "all or none" thing either -- thinking creatively will help you fit it in even when it seems impossible.
  
• Guard against bone loss and osteoporosis.
• Get all health exams and screenings that are recommended for your age group and situation.
• Make yourself and your health top priority -- It can be tough for many women to take time for themselves, but remember that you can't take care of others unless you take care of yourself.

People drink more hard liquor during the month of December than any other month of the year -- that's amazing! I don't know if it's the festivities, the family and friends, or the stress, but all those extra drinks are not only relaxing and fun but they're fattening too.

Also during this time of year people tend to pass on beer and wine and go instead for fancy mixed drinks, which in addition to having more calories the alcohol can lower our inhibitions and lead to more eating and snacking. Your best bet is to pass on those fancy mixes and stick with wine or beer instead, but if you must indulge then you might as well know which ones are the worst.

Which holiday cocktails are the most fattening? Click on the images below to find out:

To make 2008 great, nurture your inner optimist. You'll be healthier and happier than your pessimistic peers. Did you know that optimists see the benefit of any situation?

Change a couple of these things, and you will too:

• Do something about it: Instead of blaming yourself for a problem, try to solve the problem. Most optimists would rather pull over and ask for directions, rather than drive in circles cursing their own stupidity.
• Find open doors: Think of a low point, such as a breakup. Without minimizing the pain ask, 'What did I learn?' ... Seeing the good that comes with the bad can buoy you through an upset.
  
• Keep it real: When you hit a snag, say to yourself, 'This is merely one difficult moment.' You'll keep it from tainting your outlook.

Getting into shape is no easy task. If it was, it's fairly safe to say that the obesity problem in this country and others wouldn't be what it is today. Just as much as it is a physical battle, many times the largest obstacles tend to be more rooted in psychology.

With the new year approaching, as well as any and all attendant resolutions made regarding health and fitness, try your best to remember what many people refer to the 4 Be-s:

1. Be realistic about your fitness goals. You're not going to get a body like Jason Statham in a month if you currently have a body like Jason Alexander. Try being a little more grounded in reality. This is not to say that such a transformation isn't possible, it's just not going to occur in as little as one month.

2. Be specific about your goals. Exactly how much weight do you want to lose and by when? How much do you want to increase your 1 rep max on the bench press by? When would you like to be able to fit into that new dress? The more specific your goals are, the more likely you will be to achieve them.

3. Be consistent. This is probably the single-most important of all four. Fitness is a life-long process; trust me, it's much easier to lose the results than it is to get them, so make sure that you keep at it!!

4. Be forgiving. If you happen to miss a workout or cave a few times and get dessert, it's not the end of the world. Give yourself a little leeway once and a while. You should want to eat healthy and exercise, rather than resigning yourself to these practices because of guilt.

We're coming up to that time of year again, when 2007 goes out with a bang and gives way to a brand-spanking-new year, 2008. 2007 has been a good year in term of healthy living, but what will 2008 hold? Here are some trends we can expect to see in 2008:

• More trained fitness and nutrition professionals
• A continued battle against childhood and adult obesity
• An emphasis on strength and core training, with more people signing up for sessions with a personal trainer
• Fitness programs aimed at older adults
• A push towards functional fitness.
  

What do you think? Are you looking forward to getting healthy in '08?

(Via Fitsugar)

Here's an article that says something I can really get behind: January is not a good month for resolutions. It might be a good month for making resolutions, but it's definitely not a good time to try to stick to them. This idea makes total sense to me, but partly that's because I'm totally not a "cold turkey" type when it comes to making changes in my life, and January 1st comes up awful close to all the holidays. I really need some time to ease out of things, otherwise -- when I'm failing week after week in January -- I just end up feeling like a total mess-up.

So February is for me! I've been talking the talk for weeks now, and I think I'm finally mentally ready to actually back it all up with action.

I'm sure my New Year's resolution has totally written me off by now...so it will never see me coming!

I always envy those people who make a really big resolution on New Year's, like losing 30 pounds or quitting smoking, and then actually do it! I've been successful a few times over the years, but I've actually taken to making a couple resolutions now -- one easy one (like writing more "thank you" notes) and then a hard one I half expect to give up on before then end of January, like anything to do with weight-loss or fitness.

Here's a detailed list of basic things that people often do to jinx their resolution ambitions, but the basics are: having unrealistic expectations, not having a "plan of attack," having too many resolutions/getting too complicated, not having goals or guidelines for yourself, and getting discouraged too easily if it doesn't happen for you right away.

So keep it simple, make a plan, and don't give up!