Fit for Life: Don’t Make a Resolution

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Saturday, January 04, 2020

Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health +Lifestyle Contributor

Matt Espeut

I am not making a new year's resolution.

I can't.

I can't because I spend every day trying to self-improve.

I have a goal to be successful.

I also have my own opinion as to what success is, and I take a step every day to get there.

I put more pressure on myself and I do things that constantly push me out of my comfort zone, because I know that once we get comfortable, we get complacent and then we stop pushing ourselves, and forward progress stops.

I have a solid idea where I want to be, and I have full control of my actions, yet I don’t have full control as to when it will be.

I feel that by making daily or weekly goals, and accomplishing them will put us a day closer, and that's all you can control.

Getting better doesn't have a deadline, nor is it a destination or a goal you can accomplish, it's mindset that goes on forever.

Replace phrases like I'm trying with I'm doing my best, or I can't with I'm going to attempt.

Stop making excuses and don't blame others.

Take responsibility for your actions.

I consider a new year resolution like a diet… temporary. We need to make life changes to be successful at whatever it is we do every day, not just the beginning of the year.

Make more money, lose weight, be a better coach or parent.

We need to be constantly changing and evolving in order to get better.

We need to always try to learn from others by observing the things that were successful and the things that failed.

Making some loose promise, just because it’s the start of the new year is not only ridiculous, but unlikely to happen.

We need to strive and work harder to get better every day.

Yea making resolutions is fun to do, and I always encourage people to make goals, and set out to accomplish them, but they have more meaning and are more likely to happen when you set them on random days without outside pressure, or are jumping on some bandwagon because everyone is doing it.

I usually set my fitness goals around my birthday and tell myself that I will be in the best shape of my life by the time my birthday actually arrives, and most years it becomes true, with the exception of a few injuries here and there.

This method has been working for the past 10 years, because I learn more and fix mistakes, I have made every day. Now at 51, I am healthier and leaner than when I was in my 30's.

Most of the time people need the January first date to undo the downhill spiral they started at thanksgiving.

That's all it is!!

We do so much damage from then til now, we aren't making a "new year" resolution, we are fixing the damage caused by the holidays.

The nonstop eating, drinking, staying up late, and the stress, sabotages everybody’s fitness accomplishments in just a few weeks!!

I actually challenged my Fit Body Boot Camp clients to a zero-pound game for that period of time, just to try and prevent my people from losing their current results and limit the amount of damage.

We are currently running a 6-week jumpstart program to get people started and introduce them to the fitness lifestyle.

You see, even the new people that come in with a resolution will soon realize that they didn't sign up for a quick fix, or a temporary solution, because it is my job to change that mindset with realistic goals and lifestyle changes that will stay with them for the long haul.

Everyone should have one new year’s resolution and that is to try to get better every day. Period.

Wishing you success in 2020,

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitness consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one.

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Fit for Life: Don’t Make a Resolution

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