2011: Visualize, Set and Plan for Success

By Indiana State Department of Agriculture's Jeannie Keating

The holidays are complete. We hope that you’ve savored the season with some tasty treats such as Winter White Chili,  Indiana wines or  Honey Gingerbread Cookies made from foods grown right here in the Hoosier state by our Indiana’s Family of Farmers.   

But now it is the New Year. Have you begun your New Year’s resolution?

It is estimated that 40 to 45% of American adults make one or more resolutions each year. And statistics show that people who are explicitly committed to their resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who just make resolutions to break them.

If you have committed to weight loss for 2011 - congratulations on your first step to a new you!


This can be your year - even if you’ve had the same weight loss resolution last year and the year before that.


Weight loss is a journey. It can be a windy road full of detours and distractions but here are three things you can do to ensure a successful weight loss journey for yourself:   

• Visualize your success 
• Set your goal
• Make a solid plan (this is especially key)

The first two steps you can do completely on your own.  The third might require some assistance from professional resources, but we’ll get to that.

First, let’s visualize. For example, picture yourself in those cool spring shorts you’ve seen in all the magazines.  Go ahead …take a minute and truly picture yourself. (Seriously, do it right now.)

Can you see yourself? Bet you look great, don’t you?

Now, let’s set our goal. When do you want to wear those shorts? On spring break when you take a trip to Florida? At the annual Easter brunch you host every year in April? Or how about on your birthday for the first time in years?  Write it down: “I will wear the new shorts I’ve always wanted at the St. Patrick’s Day party in March 2011 (or whatever date suits your goal).”

Writing down your goal makes it real.

A plan makes it attainable and sustainable.

Your success is too important to be left to chance. It begins with a well-conceived plan. And “well-conceived” is not the “plan” pulled from a fashion magazine pitching a diet of just “low-fat tofu and broccoli.” Not only are such diets unrealistic and unhealthy – they set you up for failure because we all know that it will end the moment your husband walks in the house with a bag of McDonald’s fries!

You will achieve more working towards goals with a simple but disciplined plan of action. If you lack experience or confidence in developing a nutrition or exercise program because “you’ve done this before”, getting some professional help is highly recommended.

According to the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, statistics show that working out with a personal trainer will yield five times quicker results than working out on your own.

By investing your efforts in your New Year’s resolution, you give yourself a launch pad for truly creating change in the New Year.

Enter below to win a one-month free membership at the Anytime Fitness locations in Beech Grove or Avalon Crossing.  This will include a one-hour first-time workout with the Sett to Win Training Team that will go over a plan of nutrition, resistance training and cardio to send you on your way to success. They keep it simple and sustainable!

Enter today – and congratulations on taking that first step toward a new you in 2011.

To enter please leave a separate comment below for each of the following entries:

1. Follow the Indiana Family of Farmers blog through Google Friend Connect (see right column)

2. Follow @familyoffarmers on twitter

3. Become a fan of Family of Farmers on Facebook

4. Share this on Facebook

5. Share this #giveaway on Twitter and reference @familyoffarmers

Entries will be accepted until 9 pm EDT on Thursday. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday morning.