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Make your New Year's resolutions realistic

By Judy Fortin
CNN

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(CNN) -- Tired of making New Year's resolutions and struggling to succeed? CNN Medical Correspondent Judy Fortin got some advice from two experts, psychologist Nadine Kaslow of Emory University and professional trainer Robert Dothard.

Fortin: Why do some people have a hard time sticking with resolutions?

Kaslow: I think it's a setup. A much more realistic plan is to talk about New Year's goals, because we all have goals in our lives. We have small goals, we have bigger goals.

Fortin: How should we set our goals?

Kaslow: When you set up goals for the holidays it's really important to choose them carefully, to be very realistic about the goals that you're choosing. I recommend that people have categories of goals, they can be health goals, they can be work goals, or school goals.

Fortin: What's the biggest mistake people make when setting an exercise goal?

Dothard: Don't just say "I'm going to start working out and lose 10 pounds," because sooner or later you will lose that 10 pounds. Then where do you go? Always have a secondary goal. Always set up a reward system.

Fortin: What can help you succeed?

Dothard: The secret is accountability. If no one is holding you accountable, find someone and it doesn't have to be a professional trainer. It could be a neighbor, your spouse or significant other. Have them walk with you and exercise with you. Because the day you don't want to do it, I promise you, your spouse or significant other will say, "Hey, let's go walking."

Fortin: How do you keep from feeling that you've failed if you don't make it?

Kaslow: That's why you set very small, attainable goals. You can have a big goal you're reaching for, but small goals along the way that are realistic, attainable, measurable, you know if you've done it.

Dothard: You gotta have fun! Let's face it if you don't like spinach, odds are you're not going to eat a lot of spinach. So if you don't make exercise fun, you're probably not going to do it for very long.

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