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Key Points
- The article discusses the most common New Year's resolutions and why they often fail by March, including weight loss, smoking cessation, regular exercise, and healthier eating.
- Weight loss is the most common resolution, but many people struggle to maintain motivation. The article emphasizes the health benefits of maintaining a healthy weight and suggests regular exercise and a nutritious diet.
- Quitting smoking is another common resolution, with the average person trying to quit seven times before succeeding. The article suggests using anti-smoking medication and seeking support from health professionals to increase success rates.
- Regular exercise is a popular resolution, but many gym memberships go unused. The article suggests incorporating exercise into daily life and finding enjoyable activities to make it more appealing.
- Eating healthier is a common resolution that's often broken due to the convenience and taste of fast food. The article suggests making smart food swaps to help curb cravings and stick to the resolution.
Roughly half of all Americans start a new year with the best of intentions to improve themselves, but it doesn’t take long for resolve to weaken. By March, at least 64 percent have broken their resolutions. Read on to discover the goals most Americans struggle to stick to, and how to get back on the right path.
Related: 8 Healthy New Year's Resolutions You Can Actually Stick To
1. Shed Excess Pounds
The decision to drop weight was the most common resolution made in 2014, so perhaps it’s not surprising to learn that, according to Tesco Living, it’s also the resolution most commonly broken. Many of us feel guilty after festive season binging, but once March hits, that powerful motivator fades.
Remember though, no matter what time of year, carrying extra weight is detrimental to your health. Each extra pound puts three pounds of extra pressure on your knees. If you’re just 10 pounds overweight, you probably have higher cholesterol and a greater risk of heart disease than someone in a healthy weight range.
Eating more nutritious foods and exercising regularly is the best way to start shedding weight.
2. Stop Smoking Cigarettes
Thirty-four percent of American smokers resolved to quit last year, but the average quitter started smoking around a month later. Keep in mind, most reformed smokers quit seven times before finally kicking the habit, so it’s important to try again.
Smokers who use anti-smoking medication, such as Zyban and Chantix, and have support from health professionals are four times more likely to give up cigarettes, so take these measures to increase your chances.
Related: Ready to Stop Smoking? The Pros and Cons of Quitting Cold Turkey
3. Exercise More Regularly and Get Fit
Whether they’re attempting to lose some weight, gain killer abs, or stop feeling so out of breath, many Americans plan to exercise more regularly in 2014. More than 12 percent of gym members sign on the dotted line in January, yet four out of five of those memberships go unused for most of the year.
Gyms aren’t for everyone. If you have to drag yourself to go, your resolution will never stick. Instead, try incorporating exercise into your daily life. You might like to cycle to work, or walk around the streets during your lunch break. Exercise should also be fun, so make sure you find a workout that you enjoy. Consider joining a sporting team, rollerblading with a friend, or learning to surf to get your fitness goals back on track.
4. Diet or Eat Healthier
Eating better is another common resolution that’s often broken. Fast food is cheap and convenient, and unfortunately, those fatty sugary snacks taste so good. But there are many simple ways to start eating better in 2014.
You’ll find it easier to stick to your resolution if you can stave off the cravings. One of the best ways to do this is to make smart food swaps. Snack on fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth, or blend frozen fruit with greek yogurt for a low-cal alternative to ice cream.
Related: 7 Unusual Ways to Help Your Heart
It’s easy to feel defeated and insist that you’ll try to do better next year, but it’s never too late to get back on the right track and make 2014 the year your resolutions stick.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common New Year's resolution made by Americans, according to the article?
The most common New Year's resolution made by Americans is to lose weight.What is the impact of carrying extra weight on health?
Carrying extra weight is detrimental to health. Each extra pound puts three pounds of extra pressure on the knees. If a person is just 10 pounds overweight, they probably have higher cholesterol and a greater risk of heart disease than someone in a healthy weight range.What is the average number of attempts a smoker makes before successfully quitting?
The average smoker attempts to quit seven times before successfully quitting.What measures can increase a smoker's chances of quitting?
Using anti-smoking medication, such as Zyban and Chantix, and having support from health professionals can increase a smoker's chances of quitting.What percentage of gym memberships go unused for most of the year?
Four out of five gym memberships go unused for most of the year.What are some ways to incorporate exercise into daily life, as suggested in the article?
The article suggests cycling to work, walking around the streets during lunch breaks, joining a sporting team, rollerblading with a friend, or learning to surf as ways to incorporate exercise into daily life.What are some suggested ways to eat healthier?
The article suggests making smart food swaps to eat healthier, such as snacking on fruit to satisfy a sweet tooth, or blending frozen fruit with Greek yogurt as a low-calorie alternative to ice cream.What is the overall message of the article regarding New Year's resolutions?
The overall message of the article is that it's never too late to get back on track with New Year's resolutions, and that there are practical ways to stick to common resolutions such as losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising more, and eating healthier.
