Christie Stewart
Associate Director for Healthy Lifestyle Programs, Campus Recreation

As the first few months of the New Year slip away, do you find your resolutions slipping away as well?

Resolutions should be reasonably attainable so that you are setting yourself up for success rather than disappointment. Try focusing on small intermediate goals that will ultimately lead you to your primary goal. Do not expect to be perfect. Aim for a healthy lifestyle with which you will feel comfortable. Here are a few tips, compliments of the American Council on Exercise for making your fitness resolutions a reality during 2011.

Take Small Steps. Simply establishing the goal of leading a healthy lifestyle should make you feel good about yourself. To make that goal more attainable, come up with small goals that you know you can meet each day to help keep yourself feeling positive. Accomplishing the smaller goals will leave you with a more immediate feeling of success.

Be Realistic. Be sure that your plan of action is realistic. Plan to work out at times when it is convenient for you. If you are not a morning person, do not plan to work out early in the morning or you’ll just be setting yourself up for failure.

Build a Support System. Get the support of your family and friends. Remember that you are your best supporter. You are trying to improve your own health. Appreciate what you have and then try to treat it a little bit better than you have in the past. If you take better care of your body, you will feel better and perform better at all that you do.

Here are a few ideas to help get these resolutions started:

Take a G.I.T. FIT Group Fitness class. The G.I.T. FIT program at Georgia Tech offers more than 80 non-credit classes, providing a varied and fun workout for everyone. From yoga to kickboxing to urban dance, there is something for all interests and fitness levels. Each class is taught by certified fitness instructors who ensure that the workout is safe and effective.

Work with a personal trainer. Certified personal trainers are hired by the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) to work with students on reaching realistic, attainable goals, motivating participant progress, and educating participants about various aspects of fitness conditioning. Based on training goals, clients can choose from a variety of workouts including circuit training or advanced workouts such as TRX suspension training, BOSU, or training using the Gravity Training Systems (GTS). Choose from one-on-one training, buddy training, or group training! New this semester, F.I.T. Camp and R.I.P.P.E.D. Xtreme are group workout sessions that are designed to help track fitness goals and take your fitness to the next level!

Join the Biggest Loser Program. For those with big fitness goals, the Biggest Loser Program is back this semester! Based on the popular TV reality series, contestants receive Polar Age Body Assessments, personal training, motivational coaching, nutrition education, and a group fitness membership. This is a great challenge that holds participants accountable for their health choices, and adds a little competition to make it fun. Applications for this program are due January 18. For more information on the 2011 Biggest Loser, visit www.crc.gatech.edu.

Georgia Tech ensures that each student has the best facilities available to make their lives here as healthy as possible. You can assist your student by asking how their fitness class is going or encouraging them to play a game of basketball with some friends after studying. Resolutions are most easily achieved when a support system is available. In the words of Dr. Kenneth Cooper, “Fitness is a journey, not a destination.” Finding a maintainable healthy lifestyle is the key to keeping New Year resolutions throughout the year.