Tis the season to make our resolutions! Moan...what about last year's?

Resolutions to "be healthier" or "get in shape" are made every year by millions of Americans. It seems to be the number ONE item we want to make ourselves do!

But then "life happens" and the first thing we drop are the activities that were leading us to that simple goal. There just isn't enough TIME for life and actually getting in shape, right!? Wrong.

Over the holidays New Gym Memberships skyrocket and then the gyms fill with people for 2 whole months. In Feb 2008, the attendance drops 80+%! That's just the way it has been for years.

It is a frustrating cycle that we must break!

You can improve your quality of life by making little adjustments to your lifestyle.

We've got a few suggestions to help you succeed in your quest to "get in shape" in 2008.

1. Don't eat FAST FOOD, ever. (PLEASE)

2. Park your car in the furthest parking spot from your destination.

3. Take a few flights of steps if there is an option (up and down of course!)

4. Take BIG DEEP BREATHS throughout the day to fill your lungs to capacity.

5. If you take your pet on a walk daily, find a HILL to charge up and pick up the pace.

6. Buy 5 apples every week, eat one every day as a snack.

7. Drink more water. We recommend half your body weight in ounces of water when you are participating in our boot camp program.

8. Get more rest by getting to bed 15-20 minutes earlier or take a nap at the same time every single day. Even just closing your eyes in your car on a lunch break will help.

9. On the weekend, plan a hike in the hills. There are loads of trails to choose from. Check out the Rancho Simi Trailblazer website: http://simitrailblazers.com/ . There is a lot of history in the hills of Simi Valley!

10. Take a peek at the labels of the food you eat - choose items that don't have over an inch of ingredients...most of them chemicals created by man.

11. Join a gym, the Parks and Recreation programs, an outdoor fitness boot camp program (preferably ours!) or get a trainer that actually CARES about your progress toward a fitness goal.

12. Pack your own lunch once per week.

13. Rather than pour salad dressing on your salad, have it on the side. Dip your fork prongs into the dressing first THEN your salad. Your taste buds will still get the flavor!

14. Find someone else in your life that wants to improve their health and partner up! Even better, get your whole family involved in the game.

15. Don't focus on your weight or the scale. If you weigh yourself every day (I used to do this and so did most of our boot campers) cut it down to once per week. And NEVER let the number dictate your attitude toward life. Muscle weighs more than fat, and when you are shaping up you are building muscle!

16. Set fitness goals that are realistic. Talk to a professional in the fitness industry or your doctor if you need guidance, they should help.

Young people don't believe it when you tell them you will eventually lose the range of motion and flexibility they have.

Older people don't believe they can improve their health because they're too old.

Middle aged people don't believe they can change habits they have had since High School. But women don't fit into their "skinny jeans" anymore and the men have a spare tire all of the sudden!

The fact is that every one of us can make little adjustments that make big improvements in their health. It is difficult for most of us to stick with a big plan so small steps are VERY important.

We hope you improve, even a little, toward better health.

It is important to do something about it now and build a solid new "you" that is stronger, healthier, happier and FITTER than the 2007 "you".