Are You Ready for 2012? Inspiring Resolutions for the New Year

A quick survey around town reveals some intriguing 2012 promises and resolutions that may inspire you to make a few of your own.

Before we checked in with various area residents on their New Year’s resolutions suggestions, we received some insights from motivational coach Steve Frank of evolution360° in Birmingham, and fitness coach Ryanne Moroschan of , Beaumont Health System's medically based fitness center in Rochester Hills.  

As founder and “chief motivational officer” of evolution360°, Frank works as a personal and business coach. He helps clients with goal setting, work-life balance, transition, leadership and team dynamics.

“For this new year, consider making only one resolution: Resolve to set clear, actionable goals and be determined to take the necessary action(s) to achieve them,” he said.

“Then, start setting your goals. The best goals are goals that are measurable and that you have control over, or in other words, that you can directly take action to make happen.”

When it comes to weight loss, Frank suggests setting a goal to just be healthier. “The way you might choose to measure might be a weight loss number. Or, it might be you'll know you're healthier when ______ (fill in the blank). Create your plan.

"Make sure you have smaller, measurable successes along the way. This is huge. Success motivates us.” 

Fitness coach Ryanne Moroschan knows all about how to be successful in creating a healthier lifestyle.

“It's important that people make their healthy resolutions simple, specific and action-oriented, to help keep them on target," Moroschan said. "Make simple changes to your nutrition plan, such as a goal to replace two lattes per week with hot tea (which would create about a 500-calorie deficit each week).

“Or make a goal that that half of your dinner plate is vegetables. These two resolutions can help decrease total calories consumed each week and that makes a weight loss resolution easier.”

Moroschan said it's important to have resolutions that are reasonable and have less emphasis on the end result but more on the steps you will take to get there.

Other ideas from Moroschan: 

• Schedule at least two appointments per week for structured exercise for eight weeks. “This is a realistic and time-based goal, and much like setting a doctor appointment or lunch date with a friend, set it on your smartphone or calendar so that you take that time for yourself. Setting it for eight weeks means there's an end-point and you can reassess after eight weeks if this resolution is working for you of if you'd like to change your plan.”

• Carry a "BPA-free" reusable water bottle with you throughout your day. "This healthy resolution is two-fold because it will help you reach your goal of drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day, but also is environmentally friendly because you're not buying disposable water bottles."

• Watch one less TV program each day until spring. "This resolution will be more likely to get you off the couch especially in the evenings, when we tend to veg out for hours on end. Find other activities and hobbies to fill that time instead, such as working out, a home repair project you've been wanting to tackle, or making snowmen in the yard with the kids."

Two other keys to successful New Year's goals are support and accountability, Frank added.

“Make sure you have a good support structure in place (friends, family, a coach, etc.) and that you have a form of accountability that works for you (a coach, a group, a team, etc.),” Frank explained.  

   
Resolution Suggestions from Area Residents and Businesses:

“Commit to taking a walk after lunch at least once a week.” — Dr. Jeffrey Frederick, podiatrist, NorthPointe Foot & Ankle in Berkley                   

“Pray with expectation.” — Pam Strauch, co-owner, Lolly Ella Jewelry, West Bloomfield

“Add more color to your wardrobe.” — Pam Strauch

“Recyle your Christmas tree and plant a new tree.” — Oakland County Parks and Recreation staff

Self-serve Christmas Tree Recycling is available seven days a week from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. through Jan. 16 at 11 Oakland County Park locations. The trees are processed to make compost and wood chips that will be available to the public free of charge in 2012.  Free tree seedlings will be given to those who recycle their Christmas tree through the program. The seedlings will be available for pick-up in the spring. 

"Get organized. But being organized is an ongoing process, not a final destination. Take extra steps such as, for example, throw garbage away now rather than later, put papers (kids homework, kids art, bills, etc.) in appropriate spots as soon as you receive them. These are all small steps that are part of a big picture. Doing things now versus later saves time and money down the line.” — Andrea Wolf, NEAT (Need Everything Away and Tidy), Huntington Woods

“Set realistic goals so you don’t set yourself up for failure.” — Dr. Jennifer Bonde, owner of

Example: If your NYE resolution is to embark on an exercise program, Bonde suggests making small goals like committing to move your body for 20 minutes every day. Then you can work up from there.