Stop Making Resolutions! Make a commitment!

People make commitments all the time. They get married, buy a house or a car making a commitment to "till death do us part" or, to paying a monthly mortgage or car payment. Few dieters ever make a commitment to losing weight. Every year on January 1st the most common resolution people make is to lose weight. It could be anything from the last pesky 10 pounds that one can't seem to shake to 50 pounds. It would seem that the majority of the people that make the age old resolution to lose weight, are simply relying on one thing: Willpower. This is simply not enough and is the main reason that resolution to lose weight almost never works.

When you make a commitment to losing weight and slip up and binge or cheat with sweets, junk food, or fast food, the commitment you have made enables you to forgive yourself and get back on the program. A commitment gives you a long-term vision that goes beyond just reaching your targeted ideal weight, it goes beyond a goal. A commitment becomes the framework for your progression in life, not just how many pounds you lost in the past week. Rock solid commitment, combined with positive emotion brings you to a whole new level and then succeeding on a daily, weekly or monthly basis becomes much easier. People that can't make a commitment to losing weight are the first ones to make excuses and give up or quit the program. Uncommitted people do not know what to do when they trip up and make major dieting mistakes.

Willpower only takes you so far when it comes to a life long battle with losing weight. We seem to forget this most when January 1 rolls around and the health club industry signs up about 12 percent of their memberships. If you have ever been to a health club in January, you know what I am talking about. It is usually very crowded and you have to wait in line for a machine. This goes on for about 3 weeks and then slowly dissipates as people start to give up on those resolutions. Willpower temporarily excites, energizes, and pumps you up. While this is an amazing feeling at first, it quickly fades away and then it is back to the old unhealthy habits. Willpower is like a sprint, while commitment is like a marathon. Contrary to what some diets will tell you, losing weight and keeping it off is a marathon. It requires a commitment to long-term success. What race do you intend to train for in 2010? Make the commitment to having a healthy lifestyle and losing the weight and you will enjoy a healthy and prosperous new year!