Six Surprising Strategies for Nailing Your New Year's Weight Loss and Fitness Goals

By Cristy “Code Red” Nickel

Right now you’re fired up to hit the new year running. You’re going to lose those extra pounds you’ve been hauling around. You’re going to run a 5k. You’re going to finally feel trim and terrific. You’re thinking this is your year!

But chances are there’s doubt lurking in the back of your mind. How many times have you made resolutions in the past and failed? Maybe you made it all the way to January 8th before you fell face first into a gallon of ice cream. Hey, that’s better than the year before, right? Whether you want to lose 100 pounds or just get to the gym more often, integrating your goals into your daily life means you’re set up for success no matter what comes your way.

Anyone can stick to a plan for a week or two. But if you want to stay motivated and make changes that will last a lifetime, you’ve got to think differently. If you do the same things you’ve always done, you’re going to get the same results.”

My approach to weight loss resolutions is all about setting yourself up to win. Success isn’t rocket science. It’s just a matter of planning ahead and having support when you feel like giving up. I specialize in helping people stick to their goals and actually achieving success—no matter what the circumstances. Read on for her tried-and-true strategies for navigating 2017 and reaching those goals once and for all.

1. Clean out your newsfeed. Whether you like it or not, social media is a part of our daily lives. You need to get rid of stories and people who don’t line up with your new desired way of thinking. Trying to eat healthier? Then “hide” those chocolate cake videos. Trying to cut back on wine? Get rid of wine advertisements. Get them out of your newsfeed so they’ll get out of your mind.
2. Surround yourself with like-minded people. You know the old saying “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”? Well, what do you want your future to look like? Wanna look like those CrossFit chicks? Start following elite-level athletes on social media. Grab coffee with folks from your gym. Hold healthy dinner parties. Get friends who think like you: fit, strong, athletic, healthy!
3. Buy some cool workout clothes. Nothing gets me more jacked up about going to the gym than a new workout outfit. Spend some money on high-quality gym clothes that fit you right and make you feel good. Oversized, ill-fitting clothes that you constantly have to tug and pull at just make you feel miserable. When you feel good in your gym clothes, you’re more likely to put them on and go!
4. Set achievable goals. The reason people quit New Year’s resolutions so quickly is because they take on too much to begin with. Everyone wants to start a strict diet and exercise program on January 2nd, and they’ve completely given up by the 14th. It’s too much! It’s overwhelming! Instead of vowing to workout at the gym an hour every day, decide to go to a yoga class at least three times a week. If you do more, great! My nutrition clients have proven to me over and over that if you just make one or two changes at a time, there’s a greater chance those changes will stick and turn into a lifestyle.
5. Plan ahead. Making decisions takes energy. And by the end of the day when it’s time to decide what’s for dinner, it’s pretty likely that you’ll already be low on energy. If you have to make a choice between cooking a healthy meal and hitting the drive-thru on the way home from work, it’s really easy to cave in. Planning ahead with tools like meal-prepping and slow cookers can make sticking to your healthy resolutions much easier.
6. Stay accountable. Let’s face it, at some point in the next few weeks you’re going to want to quit. You’re gonna want to cheat on your diet. You’re going to skip a workout. But if you have someone watching your back, someone who is totally committed to helping you reach your goals, you might think twice before ordering that caramel macchiato. You can hire a professional trainer, nutritionist, or just ask a friend you trust to hold you accountable.

You don’t have to face yet another year of disappointing results and broken promises. If you truly want to lose weight, get fit, and live healthier in 2017, you can absolutely do it! Instead of setting goals you know you’re never going to reach, set yourself up for success. Tell yourself that you can do it this time—and then prove yourself right!
Cristy “Code Red” Nickel is the author of The Code Red Holiday Survival Guide: How to Maintain or Even Lose Weight During the Holiday Season. She has been in the health and fitness industry since 1994. In 2003, Cristy became a federally licensed professional boxer and fought in 15 professional fights all over the world. She was named one of the “Top 3 Most Dangerous Females on the Planet” by The Ring magazine, which landed her a coaching role on MTV’s hit series MADE. The success of that show propelled her to New York City to train top celebrities, business tycoons, models, and professional athletes. In 2008, Cristy was awarded “New York’s Best Trainer” by Allure.

After retiring from boxing, Cristy settled in Boise, Idaho, with her husband, Miles, and dog, Annabelle. In addition to experiencing phenomenal success with helping people shed pounds, she has a passion for road biking, mountain biking, snowboarding, and yoga.

Cristy doesn’t believe in diets. She believes in teaching people how to lose weight by eating real food. Her weight loss program has helped hundreds of people lose 10 percent of their body weight a month, without hunger, exercise, shakes, pills, or diet food.

For more information about Cristy “Code Red” Nickel or her weight loss program, please visit www.cristycodered.com.

For a free digital copy of The Code Red Holiday Survival Guide, please visit www.coderedholidays.com.