New Year is just around the corner and I am, as I do every year, thinking about my fitness resolution. Usually I don’t stick to these resolutions so I wanted to make a post looking at how to make a REAL resolution that sticks and works.

How to make a REAL New Year’s Fitness Resolution
If you want to make a resolution for New Year or for any time there are certain elements that you need to include and certain factors you need to take into account. Here are the most important points that will ensure success:

1 - Why do you want to achieve this goal?
If you have a vague goal in mind then you should think about exactly why you want to achieve that goal and whether those reasons are good ones. If you have only a weak idea about what you want I can guarantee you won’t stick to it.

2 - Set an EXACT goal
After you have thought about your goal you need to set an exact goal. Now, by this I don’t mean have an idea in your head about what you want to achieve, I mean set a goal that is in a brief sentance that you won’t forget.

3 - Write it down
Written down goals are less likely to be forgotten and more likely to be adhered to. Write it down and put it in three places:

1. Your wallet;
2. Your bedroom;
3. Your gym or locker.

Read it out a loud every time you see it.

4 - Make sure your written goal has four elements
A successful goal should have:

1. An exact ambition (ie - I will lose 5kg’s and NOT I will lose some weight);
2. A date by which it will be achieved;
3. A method for achieving it;
4. A reward or benefit that will come with success.

If you include these four elements in your written goal you will have less ways to worm your way out of it and thus you will have better chances of success.

5 - Make it a year long goal
I think many people forget about New Year’s resolutions because they are just that - New Year’s resolutions. We should instead think of them as 2007 resolutions or a resolution for the whole year.

I hope these ideas help some of you reach your fitness and health goals. Does anyone have any other great tips for reaching that goal?

Many people think that pushups are just one exercise in a workout of many. However, I have found that one can get a full on workout using just pushups. Here’s how.

Pushup Variations
The great thing about the pushup is that it allows you to work a variety of different muscles by just changing the placement of your hands or body. If you want to try using just the pushup to get a total workout or if you don’t have time to get to the gym then try to be creative with how you do them.

The Best Pushup Variations
Here are some of the variations on the pushup that I use in order to work out my targetted muscles better.

1 - Wide Pushups
Using a wide placement of my hands I can get a good chest workout as well as hitting the shoulders and triceps as secondary muscles.

Place your hands about a foot wider than shoulder width and focus on your chest doing the work.You can alter which part of your chest is emphasized by moving your torso forward or back in that position.

2 - Narrow Pushups
With your hands almost touching under your chest perform the pushups. This is the best position you can be in if you want to target your triceps. It is quite hard.

3 - Uneven Placement
Try placing one hand above your head and one below your shoulders and do a set of pushups. Then swap their placemets for the next set. This shifts the target to your shoulders and even your biceps and can be a great variation.

4 - Deep Stretch
If your at home place your feet on a chair and then your hands on two chairs so that when you lower yourself you are going down inbetween the chairs. This gives your chest a deep stretch and adds a new dimension to pushups.

5 - Elevated Feet
Placing your feet higher than your head shifts the target to your shoulders and is one of the hardest ways to do a pushup. Great for strength and power.

Adding Resistance
Like any weight training exercise you should try to add weight as often as possible. Try filling a backpack with weight discs or changing the intensity with which you do the pushups so that you dont stagnate.

What other pushups ideas do people have? Does anyone do them regularly?

I’m away in India right now hence the lack of posts but I wanted to write a quick post on this special night.

This blog has had a very successful year and it wouldn’t have been possible without all of my readers. I hope you all stick around for 2007!

So, I wish you all a very happy Christmas! I will start regular daily posting again in two weeks time.

Health Tips for Christmas Time
Here are some quick tips to use for your Christmas Day feasting:

1. Go slow
   You usually eat too much when you go fast.
2. Make water the main drink
   Keep a glass of water beside you the whole day as it will curb your cravings and help wash everything through.
3. Don’t mix
   Try not to mix fats and carbs and protein too much as this can lead to far too many calories and other nasty gut feelings.
4. Have fun!
   Christmas day shouldn’t be about dieting so take it easy and don’t worry about it too much. Eat what you feel like as long as you know you won’t spoil your long term resolve.

Anyone got some others?