By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Brace Yourself. Don't even brace others first, just brace yourself for the siege of New Year, New You, Better You, Best You, All New You, Changed You, and whatever else people can say to get you to buy what they are selling or read what they are writing or listen to what they are saying.

This morning, I can be found in my closet, trying to reason with my Yoga Pants. Yup. Yoga pants and they are cute too. Nice white banded ones, aqua banded ones, neat fabric etc....Santa brought me 4 new sets of Yoga Pants that I LOVE..... and I am overwhelmed by Yoga Pants right now. You know, the tight fitting, black, they look so amazing on everyone else but me pants.
Well, I wanted some and I got some and now I'm sort of wishing I didn't want Yoga Pants. However, I am determined to squeeze my body into them.

"How do they look?" I asked my husband. There was an odd silence, where I could tell a nice fake comment was coming. He said, "I think the jeans looked better." He is a wise man and we've been married for quite some time. He said something else, but it is not a clean for reading comment, but it was something about just take them off, blah blah blah blah blah.... anyway.

But here I still am with my computer in my closet having a conversation with Yoga Pants. He is not allowed in here. I have my jeans back on and my love for my Yoga Pants has not really diminished.

The good news is - It's all good.

Well most of it, anyway. These Yoga pants are getting folded back up for the time being.

Welcome to Best Ever You 365 and Happy You Year!

The trick being to not get overwhelmed by lists, goals, resolutions, and dreamy wishes, especially all at once starting tomorrow and Yoga Pants.

So put down the Yoga Pants. In fact, put down whatever is bothering you for a moment and just listen to yourself, your heart and your mind.

I am here today to help you chart a course to change your life forever. To help you stop wishing for it and start working for it. To help you learn how to break habits, learn new skills, get over the “how” and discover the “what”.

Seldom is there a mention of the mindset that must accompany life changes. Yes, you’re fat, but WHY? Yes, you are in a sucky marriage, but WHY? And on and on.

I will keep this real, simple and practical. I will not use endless cliches to live your life by. This is about authenticity. I am a real people with real problems and real lives. I just happen to like to think, write and blab about it.

But, here's the catch. You have to help me too. Help and self-help is never a one way street. We all need each other and I need you, to help me, too. My goal is to look smokin-hot in Yoga pants. Ok, well, at least have them fit.


So on to it…

Wrap Your Head Around It – You want to change, I want to change, We want to change.

Not one single person can force you to change. You have to want to change. It is really just a flat out hard thing to do. Change. Change What? Change How? Change Why? Where? When?

Completely head-spinning and before you know it a few weeks or months have passed and guess what? Nothing has CHANGED! In some cases, things may have even gotten worse!

So my challenge to you is to write down a list of 5 things you would like to change this year. Just do that for now. Grab a notebook or a journal and write down those 5 things you want to change. 5 might be a lot. Maybe try 2 if 5 feels too much.

What did you write?

All My Best,

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, CPC

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the CEO/Founder of The Best Ever You Network and can currently be found in her closet with her annual "my clothes are too small after the holidays" freak out. Good thing - the shoes still fit. This really is her year to get healthy forever. Last year she took 20 pounds off and kept them off... only more wonderful progress in store for 2012. Left unattended in the closet, it will spiral to complete swimsuit distress and panic over 6 months until bikini time, lol. She may seriously patent swim jeans this year. Thigh covering swim jeans.
Anyway. Happy New Year :)

ps- Elizabeth is the typo queen. If you see a typo, just let me know. I go it alone, as "Liz", our editor, is cooking healthy appetizers and exercise classes.