LUMBERTON — Odds are you will make a New Year’s resolution.
And odds are you soon will fail to live up to that resolution.
The start of each new year is marked with promises most people fail to keep and the setting of goals most people can’t reach. About 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February, according to U.S. News & World Report magazine.
Haley Ross, a Lumberton native and physically active Furman University student, defied the odds this year — and said she will continue to meet her resolutions during 2019. She said this year’s goal was to complete a clean and jerk lift, which is comprised of the clean movement, which entails lifting a barbell from the floor into the front racked squatted position to standing, and the jerk, which is done by powerfully moving the barbell from the front rack to the overhead.
Ross said it was tough but she put in the work to complete the task.
“I had never done it before so I taught myself how to,” Ross said. “It’s tough.”
Ross lifts weights and races horses competitively. She said it takes discipline to stay in shape each year, which is why she sets a goal at the start of the year.
“I always set a goal for myself each year,” she said.
Ross’ resolution for 2019 is to deadlift 204 pounds, which is nearly double her weight.
According to Time magazine, the top 10 resolutions each year are to lose weight and get fit, quit smoking, learn a new hobby, diet or eat healthy, save money and get out of debt, spend time with family, travel, relax more, volunteer, and drink less.
According to Shape.com, the No. 1 reason why people fail to keep a resolution is trying to go at it alone.
This is something to which Lisa Locklear, of Lumberton, can attest. Her goal for the year was to quit smoking. She failed. It’s harder when the people around you aren’t ready to change, she said.
“Everyone in my house still smokes and didn’t stop,” Locklear said.
Peggy Locklear also set a goal to quit smoking. She also failed, but for a different reason.
“I can do it three days. I can do it four, but eventually stress,” Peggy said.
Shape.com’s other top reasons for failed resolutions are setting unobtainable goals, giving in too easily, time management, financial burdens, unrealistic goals, not having a plan, a lack of honesty, and having the wrong perspective.
Mike Spear said that over the years he’s learned his lesson about having New Year’s resolutions or setting expectations for himself the hard way. He quit setting goals years ago and will continue that tradition this coming year.
“I’m just lazy,” he said. “I’m being honest.”
Spear said that actually taking it seriously makes it simple.
“When you put your mind to it, it’s just will power. Simple as that,” Spear said.
Clarence Woods, of Lumberton, said he had some setbacks this year but is back on track now.
“I don’t wait until the beginning of the year,” he said. “It’s good to start at the end of the year.”
He believes resolutions are superstitious and it really takes a change in mindset to accomplish goals, Woods said.
David McClish, a CrossFit trainer at Total Elite Fitness in Lumberton, agrees and said a lifestyle change is the key to accomplishing goals each year.
“It requires a lot of work and a lot of dedication,” he said. “What is this person’s self-esteem like and mindset? If that doesn’t parallel, it’s a lot easier for them to quit.”
