I used to hate New Year's resolutions; the old attempts to diet, count calories, start exercising or quit smoking. There was actually nothing about the energy of the new year that helped me succeed at my goals. What was more likely for me was my all-or-nothing behavior would kick in so I would try to severely restrict my eating. This would last for about three days at which point I would swing out of control, have a big binge, and be flooded with all those bad feelings about myself. Lovely.

I dislike New Year's fitness resolutions even more now than I did then. As a fitness professional, I made a commitment early on to make truth be the foundation of my practice. It is the reason I don't buy into fads, I don't sell supplements, and I don't make unrealistic promises. No '30 pounds in 30 days' at Clear Rock. But here's what I see happen each year.

Right around the beginning of November, we start to get holiday busy and distracted. Comfort foods and fast food sneak back in. Consistency in our workouts suffer. The holiday foods are everywhere and we forget how important it is to stay committed to selecting high quality low calorie ingredients and instead go with the old traditional ways of cooking and eating. Unfortunately many of these ways are high calorie and high sodium so we end up paying the price. Weight creeps on.

Then on January 2, everything slows down. The decorations get taken down, the company leaves, and we're left with the consequences of all our choices over the last two month. I remember this feeling well. Clothes don't fit, I would feel bloated, sluggish and very depressed. So many companies that have anything to do with weight loss, fitness, exercise, supplements, or any other product like that know that feeling too.  They see the vulnerability in it and do everything possible to exploit it.

Not feeling good about yourself? (insert evil laugh here) We have a weight loss pill for you. Or these smoothies are the key. Or shakes. Powder. Or this packaged food system. Or this exercise equipment. (How many of us have the ab lounger, shake weight, or toning shoes?) I don't believe for a second that the answer to feeling better about yourself is in a pill, a product, a person or a place. What is the Truth?

I believe that the answer is in YOU. You have to decide that you matter to you. You have to make time for you. You have to learn to take care of you and become informed as to what choices support that.

The gym I have been going to for the last year and a half is abruptly closing its doors next week. My initial thought was from fear. Oh no, what am I going to do? I am working out so consistently because of this gym. I am working so hard because of my instructors. I don't know what to do without that. Then I remembered the truth. A gym is a great place to go to exercise. My instructors are awesome in the way they support me in my goals. But my fitness is mine. Ten years ago, I chose to make fitness a priority in my life. In that time, I have worked with trainers, group fitness instructors, joined the running club, done MIT, belonged to the WAC, the Rec Center, Metro Fitness and LFF. The common thread is me.

No one and nothing owns this for you. It is yours. You can exercise at home, at Sharon Woods, in your neighborhood or at a gym. You can make healthy, informed food choices whether you like to cook or like to eat out. Your reasons are personal and your struggles are unique. But you are always empowered to make changes. There is absolutely nothing holding you back except the battle of your mind.

Please. Find a way to stay consistent with your exercise through the holidays. Make very wise decisions when it comes to ingredients, food selection, and portions. Do it from a place of love and respect for yourself and your body. Make it be the outward expression of the commitment you have to yourself to matter to you, to make time for you, and to take good care of you. And when January 2 comes, we can all feel strong and brave and empowered instead of vulnerable to the marketing message that will be flooding over us for a month. My sincerest hope for you is that you feel so good about yourself now and into January that when you hear those commercials, you chuckle to yourself and remember the days when you were their target but now you are victorious.

Now get moving.