It s the middle of July, and you know what the means:

It s Half Year Resolution time!

OK, let s backtrack a minute. Resolutions are for New Years. And New Years was six months ago, and is still six months away. What possibly is he talking about?

Well, what better way to make a successful resolution than by getting a six-month head start, putting less pressure to succeed? By getting this head start today, in July, your goals will be six months easier when January 1st rolls around.

Some gyms estimate that half of their business is generated by New Year s Resolutions. We ve all made them. Whether your goal is to lose 20 lbs, go to the gym five days a week, stop smoking or spend more time with your family, what is so special about the New Year that makes people want to strive to do better.

It s July, it s the dog days of summer, and you need to get a six month jump on your resolution today! So stop waiting till 2007 to get in better shape, do it today. Here are four tips that will make you reaching your “Half-Year Resolution” much, much easier to reach.

1. Get a schedule
I can not stress this enough. The first two weeks is that hardest part of any new aspect of your life and going to the gym is no different. If you want to work out everyday before work, do it everyday! Don t skip a day, because that will quickly turn into skipping every other day, and before you know it, you re back to making a New Year s Resolution. Seventy percent of people who sign up for a gym membership stop going after two weeks. Seventy percent.

2. Get a difficult workout
OK, I m sorry, but there s nothing in the air that will magically make you reach your fitness goals. If it is to lose weight, you need to hit the cardio at a relatively fast pace, increase the difficulty periodically, and combine a safe weight training routine. The correct weight training done at a faster pace will burn just as many, if not more, calories than cardio.

3. Write down everything you eat and drink
And I mean everything! Those margaritas on a Friday night still count against your diet, and they do add up! If you go to Staples and get a composition book and write down everything you eat daily, along with the total number of calories, you d be amazed at where you can make changes.

4. Buy measuring devices
This is the single most important tip you will receive. Everyone (should, at least) knows where the nutrition information is on all the food we eat. But 2 ozs. of pasta? How much is that? The only way to know is to buy a digital scale (I bought mine for less than $30) and weigh your food. I know, it sounds strange, but it will help melt the weight right off.

These four tips, if done daily and correctly, will literally double or triple the effectiveness of your workout and help you reach all your workout goals.

Matt Elder is a certified personal trainer who creates workouts online to save clients hundreds of dollars a month. Visit http://www.eldersonlinetraining.com today to see how he can help you reach all your fitness goals.

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