As the end of February nears, many New Year’s resolutions are still in effect while many have been done for many weeks. Whether you’re still going strong or stopped a few weeks into the New Year, you still have 10 months to reach your goals and get into new routines!

One very popular resolution is to get healthy, but of course with Valentine’s Day chocolate and all of the delicious, but not healthy food, always being on sale it is very hard to achieve that goal. There are a few ways to ensure that your goals will be achieved by the end of the year:

• Plan out your food ahead. One of the hardest things about eating healthy is not knowing what you’re eating each day. By planning ahead every Sunday, you ensure that you will eat what you have prepared.

• Work out daily. Working out is beneficial for ample reasons; it is good for more than just looking good on the outside: it’s good for the inside. Try to work out 3 to 4 times a week for 30 minutes to an hour.

• Remember moderation. Everything in life is about balance; this is true in being healthy. Do not workout 7 days and eat nothing but salad. If you are craving a hamburger from Chili’s, treat yourself because you deserve it. Give yourself a cheat day every week if you want to, this is your life so make it your own, not what someone else tells you to do.

• Find motivation. Find a reason to keep going when you feel bad or when you want to give up. If you can’t come up with any, remember that you are reducing your risk of diseases and you are making yourself stronger. After all, that’s what it’s all about.

• Change it up frequently. The number one reason that people stop working out is because they get bored. Do cardio one day a week and incorporate it each workout. Make your workouts fun and you’ll never get bored.

• Do not overwork yourself. If your body is so sore that you can hardly move, give yourself the day off. It’s a jog, not a sprint. Also, if you do arms one day, do legs the next day, and abs with cardio the day after. You have to work your whole body in order to improve that ‘target area’ you have.

• Get comfortable being uncomfortable. There will be days that you push yourself to the limit and your muscles are fatigued and you want to give up, but those days are the most important. Do that extra rep even if you’re sure it’s impossible, because it isn’t. You are stronger than you think, stop overthinking it and let your body take over.

• Make goals and know them. This gives you incentive to keep working out and eating healthy. Make sure your goals are attainable when you set them so you don’t get discouraged if you don’t reach them in the time period you had hoped for. Don’t just make goals, know how you are going to achieve them.

Please remember that being healthy has nothing to do with a number. Being healthy is not about weight, it is about doing what’s good for you. By being fit, you are helping your organs keep strong, keep healthy, and keep you alive!