Quick tips to set New Year fitness goals and meet them

As the clock counted down to midnight and the new year made its appearance, many people listed resolutions for a healthier, happier new year. It's easy to discuss resolutions, but it's another thing to keep them. Research has found that more than 40% of Americans make New Year's resolutions, but only 8% report achieving them.

Setting realistic goals for your health and fitness is the best way to keep them throughout the year. One way to ensure your New Year's resolution success is to keep your goals simple and realistic. Plan your goals for the entire year, or break them into smaller goals that will keep your motivation high.

"When you're first setting New Year's resolutions, you're setting goals that may not be feasible for you," said London Butterfield, Ph.D. coordinator of UF Health Vitality Mind program at The Village Retirement Community.

She suggests planning S.M.A.R.T. goals to ensure success.

"Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, so is this goal relevant for your life right now, and time-bound," said Butterfield during an interview with WCJB.

Check out four more tips for keeping your resultions, and join us for a free seminar to help you learn how to create a healthy lifestyle you can maintain. Let us help you put your New Year's resolutions into action.