Let me just get through the holidays and then I’ll start my fitness and nutrition regimen. How many times have you made this excuse? How many times have you succumbed to cultural procrastination in order to pig out from Halloween to New Year’s Eve and then attempt to go extreme come New Year’s Day? Here are three simple strategies to do it different this year.

1. Start your New Year’s resolution right now. Today, November 7, 2011. As Einstein said, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.” Make 2012 your year by integrating healthy habits now. Come January 1, 2012 you will be ahead of the game and down 10 pounds. Check out this article from Psychology Today about why most New Year’s resolutions fail:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201012/why-new-years-resolutions-fail

2. The one day strategy: Vow to eat clean and log your food every day in November. Enjoy yourself on Thanksgiving and log it in just to see how many calories this holiday usually packs. Guess what? 3,000 is the average calories consumed on Turkey Day. 29 days of immaculate clean eating and you get to enjoy Thanksgiving. We will be running the Turkey Trot that day to earn our pumpkin pie. Wanna join us? Register here:

http://www.svetiming.com/jrunning/events/2011/11th-Annual-Marin-County-Turkey-Trot-11-24-2011

3. Learn to love working out in the cold: Winter is the most crucial time of year to renew your fitness and nutrition goals. Did you know?

• Working out in the cold burns more calories;
• Cold weather workouts still trigger endorphin production while elevating your mood and reducing stress;
• Feel great knowing that you are outdoors at O’Dark Thirty sweating while everyone else is lazing in bed thinking, “Oh, I’ll try to get to the gym later…”
• Work out smarter by planning ahead by dressing in layers; protecting your hands, feet, and ears; stay hydrated.
• Get your flu shot, wash your hands, and stay away from your sick colleagues;
• DON’T MISS WORKOUTS BECAUSE IT’S COLD. A WARM-UP IS CALLED A WARM-UP BECAUSE IT WARMS YOU UP!!!