Set Small Goals to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

As platters of Christmas cookies and holiday roasts disappear, one of the most common resolutions in the New Year is to be healthier. Goals to drink less, eat better and exercise can be kept throughout the year if goals are realistic.

“Especially for New year’s resolutions it’s important for people to focus on overall health instead of weight or size,” said Jeanine Giordano, a clinical dietitian at Hudson Valley Hospital Center.

“Focus on one change at a time. A lot of diets throw a whole bunch of things at you at once.” Better goals are, “for example, I’ll take the stairs at work instead of the elevator, or I’ll have a salad three days a week.”

January is a notoriously busy month for new gym memberships, many capitalizing on zeal to create a better you. “Of course, everyone wants to make a New Year’s resolution and month or two later we see a drop off. That’s with every gym. Most people quit in a few months, that’s the average you see, but a lot of people fall short before then,” said personal trainer Daniel Calabrese, of Anytime Fitness in Somers.

Calabrese said many people become discouraged when they don’t see immediate results. “A lot of people think they’re capable of doing it themselves, and they don’t know enough to develop an effective workout.”

Switching around your work out routine and getting a family member or friend’s support can also help people stick to their resolutions, say Calabrese and Giordano. “A great way to stay motivated is to get support from a family or friend. By having the support of a family of friend they can monitor you and make sure you’re actually doing it, and not just saying it,” said Giordano.

Specialized gyms and programs offered by municipalities help many people maintain their resolution. Women’s gyms, children’s gyms and even prenatal yoga cater to group’s different needs.

“Most women don’t put themselves first, they’re caregivers and they put everyone else first. So then their health is at issue, they intend to do exercise and follow a diet plan, but their needs come secondary to the people that they love,” said Joanne Davis, owner of Curves in Pound Ridge.

Davis should know, after struggling with weight problems for nearly her entire life, she joined Curves and lost 60 pounds. She liked the franchise so much she bought one.

“Regular exercise helps you sleep better, gives you energy, makes you feel stronger, keeps your body stronger, keeps your mind clear, because during the time you’re exercising it clears your mind,” she said.

Other specialty gyms cater to children, like Jodi’s Gym in Mount Kisco. “I grew up as a gymnast, was active my entire childhood,” said Jodi Rosenwasser-Levine, who founded Jodi’s Gym for children 30 years ago. “I found there were a lot of kids that did not have a good movement education and that if they started with good fitness and they continue, and it would not be a chore.”

Nearly all municipalities offer some kind of physical fitness program through recreation departments. Most now offer low-cost yoga classes. Yoga classes are available through recreation departments in Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, and Somers.

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