The first quarter of the year is over and I meant to do this New Year’s Resolution check-in at the end of March. But, that’s the reality of resolutions right… life gets in the way!
Luckily, it’s better late than never to get on track. Let’s do this!
The #1 most popular New Year’s Resolution is to “Lose weight”.
I hear that.
The #2 New Year’s Resolution of RER readers is to run a new distance – like a marathon or PR/get faster!
Now that we’re in April it’s time to check in and make sure you’re on track to get YOUR GOAL by the end of the year.
By now most people who made New Year’s Resolutions have either decided to go for it all in or quit and barely remember their goal. But I am confident that RER readers are more awesome than the average peep. So, share your status in the comments!
This article from the New Yorker says a lot of resolutions fail because we overestimate our ability, underestimate how long working on it will take and exaggerate how much accomplishing the resolution will change our lives.
That’s why it’s important to check in on your progress and make sure you CAN and WILL rock it out by the end of the year.
Things like losing weight and keeping it off AND running a new distance take time, commitment and life changes. It won’t work if you don’t work.
Here are some tips for checking in with your goals…
It’s totally okay to realize, “Hey, I don’t think I’m going to be able to scale Kilimanjaro without assistance this year!” But, set another goal that will get you closer to that so you don’t feel like you failed.
And if you didn’t set a resolution, that’s cool too. I’m not the resolution po-po I just kinda love ‘em!
From the New Yorker – Why We Make Resolutions and Why They Fail
My resolutions for 2014 include:
PR-ing in the Marathon <- writing a training plan for that today.
Losing the last 5 pounds, which is now probably 9. <- not snacking for 21 days to break the habit.
Question: How are your goals for 2014 coming along?
How can I help you get ‘em?
Yeeeee I’m so glad you brought up a check in…
My goals are:
to run my first marathon (in 4 hours). CHECK
buy a house. CHECK
stay true to 90% paleo. CHECK (most days….)
get a puppy.. in progress
and complete at least one “30 days of yoga” this year. That might be tough once I get a puppy though so maybe I should rearrange my goals… but it was *relatively* easy to convince myself to run 6 days a week during marathon training because the consequence is being miserable during the race.. it is much harder for me to get past my 3 days a week of yoga because there is nothing that happens if I don’t. Soooo I’ll use social media to keep me motivated… 30 DAYS OF YOGA I WILL DO IT. Please ask me again next quarter! 🙂 Thanks Monica
I already accomplished two of my goals: run my first half marathon and PR in the 5k!
My New Year’s Resolution this year is to run 2 half marathons – one Spring and one Fall. So far, I feel on track. My long run for this weekend is 10 miles, and I’m doing hill repeats and some speed work during the week. I’ve signed up and paid for both races (plus hotel rooms!), so I’m financially committed as well, which is a huge motivational factor for me.
I really enjoy reading your blog and other running blogs because they help motivate me. I know I’m not alone in my journey!
Hello Brooke,
I don’t mean to be “rude” at all here, but snacking is actually really good for you (check out: The Real Life RD’s blog at: http://www.thereallife-rd.com/ ) In fact, I have 2-3 snacks a day…consistently (plus 3 meals). Snacking actually “revs” your metabolism. AND…people who don’t snack tend to be so hungry by the time they have their next meal, that they overeat at their meals.
If you are concerned about your snacks, I can understand that. Perhaps you should try snacks that are more “filling” such as very watery vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, celery with hummus. The more “watery” the more “volume” they feel in your tummy. Also, lean proteins can do the same thing, like tuna fish and Greek yogurt.
I hope this helps Monica. I’m just thinking that cutting out all snacks would actually be worse for you…especially if you are a runner…you need to replenish your energy/glucose every 2.5-3.5 hours or so. That’s what I do. I couldn’t imagine going w/o snacks!
~Amy 🙂
Thanks Amy, It’s a really complicated issue with me. I believe in Intuitive Eating, but 98% of my snacking is out of habit not hunger. I’m focusing on breaking that habit for a bit. 🙂
Monica! Thank you so much for posting the Re-Set graphic. I think it is so important to do this, especially the action plan…says the girl who hasn’t done it yet and visited the food truck for lunch. Did I mention I race on Saturday? Pretty sure that’s not a RW recommended pre-race fuel. (Side note: it was glorious and delicious).
Love the way your website is looking now! I don’t know if I made any resolutions this year, but I was kinda feeling like I was not as committed to working out as I had been, and as of the last two or three weeks or so, I feel like I’m getting my groove back. I’m super thin, so I don’t necessarily have weight to lose, but it’s like I can tell when I’ve been eating crap, so my body is just now getting back to where I need to be, especially with my wedding coming up!
My goals this year are to run my first marathon and work much harder to get my strength training workouts in. I’ve been to the gym for strength classes twice a week since Jan 1, and just started the marathon training program. So far, so good!
My goal for 2014 was to be more positive. It is a goal that will always be something to work on. I think I am doing well so far. I plan to keep it up.
I also would love to PR in a half marathon this year. I have gotten faster each year for the past 3 years.
Well, I already PR-ed in the marathon this year so I guess I’m good! But I really would like to PR in my half marathon and 5K, also. And keep my marathon shape because I got engaged this year and will be getting married.
So yeah, big year so far. 🙂
Why is snacking a ‘bad’ habit? Isn’t there room for snacks in a healthy diet? I don’t think I could survive the day wo a few snacks. Is it just the label of ‘snack’ vs ‘small meal’?
My snacking is a bad habit because it’s done out of habit, not hunger. For most people snacks are a great way to prevent overeating and keep energy levels steady. It’s more complicated with me.
Got it. Thanks for the reply!
My goals have morphed a bit over the last few months. I want to be strong and fit, not necessarily skinny (which I am not). I want to learn how to strength train. My husband bought me some personal training sessions for my birthday!! So after I run my half marathon next weekend, I’m going to start weight training. I’m hoping I lose weight and inches. I also want to run a marathon – my first – in December! Boom – there’s the goals!!
My main fitness goal this year is to qualify for the Ironman World Championships. It was my goal last year too, but I didn’t have a plan for accomplishing it. This year I have a new coach who has a great plan, and so far I’m feeling right on track. Woot!
Good luck!!! That is an awesome goal!
I just posted about one of my resolutions! So far, I’m doing okay with my resolutions! Usually I only have one resolution, but this year I had fitness goals, financial goals, and spiritual goals.
This post re-inspired me so much! THank you Monica! As of right now, I am down about 5lbs but definitely want to keep going. I also really need to work on my snacking and binge eating 🙁
Is there a HOME tab on your website? I miss being able to click that to take me to the most recent post!
You can click on the Run Eat Repeat on top to get back to the top. My web guy and I kept going back and forth about whether or not to have one. Do you vote ‘yes’ to the home button?
Definitely! I use the home button ALL the time! In fact, when I come upon a new-to-me blog, sometimes I won’t start reading it if there isn’t a Home tab!
With my thyroid issues, I feel like it’s IMPOSSIBLE to lose weight. I have increased mileage and decreased calories and I continue to weigh the same. It’s pretty amazing.
I didn’t really set any goals for 2014. The one thing I did say was that marathons are tough and i only want to run one this year….a spring marathon….well I failed because it looks like i’m running a second one in July (San Francisco). But I guess it’s not such a bad fail. LOL!
The resolutions that I should have made are to drink way more water and to start strength training on a regular basis. Good thing I didn’t make them because i haven’t even come close to sticking to them. Why am I so thick-headed when it comes to water and weights?
My resolutions are: running at least 520 kilometers this year (currently at 230) and running half a marathon (going to happen next Sunday).
Not related to running: I wanted to make spring rolls (completed at January 4th!) and bake at least four different types of bread (two down, two to go).
Furthermore, I planned on buying a house. We’re working on that….
Those are some awesome goals! What kind of bread did you bake??
One was a cottage cheese banana bread, with blueberries and cocos. It’s funny they call it bread, because I made small ones that were more like muffins to me 🙂
The other one was a parsnip rosemary bread (from the Vegalicious cook book) and that was really awesome!
My resolutions were to drop 10 lbs and to PR in the half. I dropped 3 min+ from my half time already this year! But the weight thing… I’m down like, 2 lbs? Better than nothing, I guess. There’s still time! Warmer weather will definitely help me along those lines — this winter was BRUTAL for comfort eaters like me. Womp.
Ironically, it can be hard to lose weight while training for long distances. Focus on your time more than weight – you are already making so much progress!!
My resolution was to start watching tv after not watching it since like 2009…and I totally nailed it.
#Boom
My 2014 resolution to get strength training in and to drink more water. I am doing great going to my boot camp class, I have not missed one in 2014! I need to drink more water. I am horrible about it and I am trying to work on it.
You haven’t missed one bootcamp yet?! AWESOME!!
Lost the 10 pounds or so I needed to lose 🙂 but accidentally did it through stress from a new job rather than exercise 🙁 So my new resolution is to up my muscle mass and keep my fat % low. Most recently I was at 95.4 pounds of muscle mass and I want to increase that to 100 lbs. Thankfully, I just signed up for a yoga Groupon because it’s hard for this girl to do anything but cardio!
My goals for the year are coming along pretty well! I’m making good progress on developing my speed for the 10K
I want to let you know that RER is one of my fav running sites AND for once I actually followed through on my resolution….because OMG I’M RUNNING BOSTON NEXT MONDAY! You have inspired me big time through all this training and also in the amount of bananas and watermelon I consume. YUMMERS. Thanks so much, and I hope to see you at the start next year 🙂
Melissa, Congratulations and GOOD LUCK!!!! I am proud of you 🙂 Thank you so so much for the comment too. I really appreciate it.
This is terrible. I don’t actually remember what my new years resolution was…I’m pretty sure it had something to do with strength training, because I’m really bad about doing it.
I guess it’s time to reevaluate and get organized.
I made A LOT of goals for 2014 and I’m a bit behind where I should/hoped to be, but still fighting for them! Down 6 pounds since January 1 (27 to go).
I’m up 5 lbs but down 2% body fat. My bum is bigger, my husband says fitter. I just wanted to maintain. How do you train your brain to not stress over a scale jump? Paging Dr. Monica.
I say focus on the body fat or clothing size instead of the scale numbers. The scale can jump so much with water weight (time of month, too much salt…) and it can drive ya crazy. Choose other numbers to gauge progress and check in with the scale once a month or so.