Inspired by the great fitness blogs recommended at Zen Habits, I began thinking about my own fitness goals for 2010. Swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco? Run the San Diego Rock And Roll Marathon? Qualify for the CRASH-B rowing championships? Or simply, just walk more?
I'll be the first to admit it: I get lazy sometimes. But as I read the blogs over at Zen Habits, it struck me that many fitness enthusiasts are already leveraging social media to help them meet their fitness goals for 2010. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
1. Own It
The first step to any lasting change is to identify your goal. Announce your goals to your friends on Facebook, or join one of the fitness discussion boards to share your daily victories. (If you're feeling overly ambitious, check out Crossfit.com.) Announcing your goals in public forums forces you to take ownership and accountability for your goals. Moreover, you'll be inspired by the encouragement of your online community. For a bold example of this strategy, check out ProBlogger Darren Rowse's Fat Chart.
2. Tweet It
Others have already written about how Twitter can be used to help you lose weight. @DrKal's post at TwiTip, "10 Ways To Use Twitter for Weight Loss," is helpful. Why not use Twitter tools like TWYE (Tweet What You Eat) to keep journals of diet and exercise?
3. Wager It
Put a contract on yourself: wager that you'll lose the weight by making a commitment contract at StickK.com. Here's how it works: you set a goal, make a wager that you'll meet the goal by a specified time period, select a referee, then go for it. If you don't meet your goal by the specified time, your money will go to a charity of your choice. A simple but powerful concept: don't underestimate how much a little wager can nudge you toward your goals.
Own it, tweet it, or wager it: it's your move.
