by Edward Gemdjian

January is the month for resolutions.  Some of us are determined to save more money this year, while others aim to get engaged or go back to school.  Overwhelmingly, New Yorkers are in a mad dash back to the gym, hoping to drop that 5 or 30 pounds the holidays helped pack on.  For most of us this isn’t the first time we’ve tried to lose weight.  It isn’t the first time the winter blues and decadence of the holidays have caused us to increase a jean size or two.  So what then, will be different this year?  We’ve done the exercise before, we even bought the Weight Watcher’s Points book last year, it didn’t work.  Is there something wrong with us?

In short my answer is yes, there is something imperative missing from most of our January weight loss plans.  It is quite simply our belief that we can succeed.  We know what we need to do, but we either don’t think we can do it or we can point the finger at a ton of things that will get in the way of our best laid plans.  We simply will not take responsibility for our health and appearance.  Why is it that every billboard gets thinner and leaner while the people walking the busy street below are getting bigger and fatter?

We must begin to treat ourselves and our loved ones as if we can not fail.  After all, if we put our best effort forth, if we find the most qualified people to help us, if we commit ourselves to our goals fully, then we truly can not fail.  If we support each other in these efforts, our chances of success increase exponentially.

Most importantly, believe in the process.  Most diets and eating plans fail because we give up before the end of the program.  Believe that you can finish, believe that the results will come, most importantly, believe that we all believe in you and support you.  Carry over the spirit of the holidays, by supporting your fellow dieters.  Whatever higher power you believe in does not want a bunch of depressed overweight followers, it’s true.

Edward Gemdjian is a NASM certified Personal Trainer and Holistic Lifestyle Coach. Team Awesome is his response to the myriads of misinformation about health and fitness in the media. He currently sees clients exclusively at Equinox Fitness in Chelsea, New York.  For information on web based training, please Contact us or click on the link at the top of the page.