Isn't it challenging to go from one set of habits to a completely new way of doing things, literally overnight? Throw in a few obstacles, like kids and work, and making those changes to reach your New Year's resolution just doesn't seem very easy! For a healthier and happier lifestyle, we typically start out the New Year committing to just about everything. But the resolutions we attempt most, the king and queen of resolutions, are always the same from year to year - lose pounds and gain muscle.

If you are heading down the road to better health, we commend you for the efforts! And if you've found a compatible diet or workout routine, friends to stick by you and the family members who cheer you on, you've got an excellent start! Kudos to you! If, however, you're like most people, you're probably already experiencing obstacles and have probably put your resolution on the back burner or even worse, dumped it altogether and are starting to feel a little hopeless about being able to achieve your "new you" resolution.

Don't give up - there's hope yet! Many of the problems you may be experiencing are not necessarily obstacles to keep you from your goals, but signs that provide more information about what you need to attend to first. Some find that the biggest obstacle in any exercise program is not necessarily strength of will, but actually a four-letter word, P-A-I-N (and discomfort). Pain in the muscles, pain in the joints and especially pain in your back. In fact, 8 out of 10 people will experience some kind of back pain at one point in their lives. General discomfort and achiness can be the reason behind the excuses for not going to the gym. Eventually discomfort leads to pain - and if you've ever experienced any kind of joint pain, you know how debilitating it is and how little energy you have to even do the most mundane daily activities. Many sufferers don't even try to exercise, not only because of their pain, but for fear that they'll somehow cause more damage.

Back discomfort and pain do not have to put the damper on your resolution, and here are 3 ways you can carefully attend to these signs in order to get on with your exercise routine.

First, start easy - start where you live. Take a close look at your furniture - the sofa, your mattress, the chair at work and even the seat in your car. All of these can be huge culprits in promoting bad posture. Bad posture means that your body is out of a neutral position that ends up stressing joints and muscles leading to discomfort and fatigue. Since at least 20 hours of your life are spent in contact with these types of furniture, you want them to be comfortable and still provide support that provides a neutral body position.

If even one of these lacks the right support, your body will not be happy. It's like holding your arm out in front of you for a few hours - you can imagine the discomfort, stress, fatigue that will lead to pain. Eight hours on a flimsy mattress or 6 hours on a slouchy chair day in and day out - Ouch! If your back could talk, it would probably asking for some better furniture.

But seriously, we typically don't really think about these areas very much until we start experiencing a larger degree of discomfort. Why? Because there are so many other 'important' things we are spending our time thinking about. But, a little time and attention to this does go a very long way and your back will thank you.

Second, if you've just begun a new exercise routine or added a new type of exercise or sport and discomfort and/or pain have begun, you may just need a few tweaks here and there to your workout routine. Oftentimes our enthusiasm can get us into trouble, and we jump into a program that our body is not quite ready for. It's important to recognize this, take a step back, and then gradually grow into the program you want while you build the necessary strength and stability. This can be done on your own, although it can be very helpful to move things along by finding the support you need at a local gym or recreation center. It may just take one or two sessions with a personal trainer to help identify what kind of program your body needs.

Third, if discomfort and/or pain is persistent or has been around for awhile you may want to consider getting it looked at by a professional. Your muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments that make up the joint, may have broken down to such a point that they need some help to get back on track. Exercising while they are in this condition can cause further break down when you put undue strain on them. It's a bit like running around the block with the flu. Your body is just too weak, and needs to heal first in order to manage the additional stress. Attending to weakened joints, and making them strong and resilient may not be as difficult as you might think. Many good professionals are out there that can provide the therapy necessary to get you on your way. Dr. Ramzi Dalloul, an avid runner and health enthusiast, who runs a local chiropractic clinic in Westminster, says, "finding the right program to fit your needs is important. Programs that assist with lifestyle changes and work to build joint health and stability that includes a personal home care regime, is essential."

Dr. Dalloul, who is also in his 5 th year as the official chiropractor for the Ballet Noveau Colorado, has recently begun a program called 'Peak Performance' out of a desire to support the everyday athletes through the rough spots of getting fit and active. The purpose has been to give novice athletes the same opportunities and information that serious athletes are exposed to. And, he says, "we're all potential athletes, and many of us are just lacking a few good pieces of information to enjoy being fully active." "Even if you have experienced chronic pain, there is hope."

So, if you're one of those who's resolution to be more healthy has started to move to the back burner or even a person who suffers from chronic back issues, you can move forward with the right information and support. It's a matter of getting good information, taking charge and being proactive so you can be in charge of your body rather than your body in charge of you.

Dr. Ramzi Dalloul offers his Peak Performance clinics and workshops to the public through local venues, including the City of Thornton Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center, Front Range businesses and community lunch and learns. These valuable clinics provide supportive information and resources that assist the participant in understanding their individual issues, establishing action plans for resolving them. The next available clinic will be held at Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant, Tuesday January 22nd at 11:30 am. RSVP's receive a reduced lunch fee of $3. Contact In Good Form at their website InGoodForm.com or call 303.412.0037 to RSVP.