New Year, New You?
It’s that time of year again! It’s time to make those New Year’s Resolutions! A few of the most common New Year’s Resolutions are to exercise more, lose weight and eat better. For many, these goals never get met. Unfortunately, they get pushed to the bottom of the priority list in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the New Year.
Every January, people flood into the gym with good intentions. Some people find success, but many lose sight of their well-intended goals and fall back into unhealthy habits.
Do you feel like staying committed to an exercise program is an uphill battle? That going to the gym, eating healthy and losing weight all at the same time is just too much? You can do this and I’m here to tell you that you are not alone! Lots of people struggle, especially this time of year!
If a healthier New Year is truly what you want, you need to keep that desire strong throughout the year! Living a healthier lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight; you have to keep working at it. Let’s wipe the slate clean, shall we? Let’s start the New Year off with our best foot forward and see if we can conquer our fitness goals! Here are a few tips to help you get off to a healthy New Year.
Find a Gym
Finding a gym, you really like (such as Champions Fitness Center) is a great start, but simply signing up won’t help you reach your goals. You have to show up and do the work! Stay on a schedule like you would with anything that is of the utmost importance in your life and don’t allow yourself to get distracted along the way. Designate an hour, at least three to four days a week for your workout. If you miss a day, be sure to make it up.
Do What You Like
If you look forward to a particular physical activity, do it. If you like dancing, look into dance-based workouts like Zumba. If you like to exercise in the water, see if your gym offers aqua classes. When you like what you are doing, you are more likely to stick with it.
Formulate Achievable Goals
Start small with your ultimate goal in sight. If you break your goals down into smaller achievable goals you will be less likely to get discouraged along the way. If you want to run a 5K, try intervals of walking and jogging. Slowly decrease your intervals of walking and increase your intervals of jogging. Before you know it, you will be running the entire way.
Share Your Goals
Share your goals with the people in your life. Having the support from those who matter will help you stay motivated. They can also help hold you accountable. You never know who will encourage you to keep going when you need it the most and who knows, you may even inspire someone to join you on your journey.
Take it One Day at a Time
Dropping twenty pounds is a great long-term goal, but don’t bite off more than you can chew! Dieters tend to fall off the weight loss wagon when they have such a lofty resolution. Make some basic alterations to your lifestyle. Focus on losing one or two pounds a week by setting small diet and exercise goals. Changes in what you eat, when you eat and even where you eat it are a good place to start.
Aim To Be Better
It’s not about being perfect, it’s about gradual and continuous progress. It’s not the end of the world if you have a day where you don’t follow your diet or a week where you’ve missed a few workouts. Focus on doing better each day so you can see your progress along the way and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Something Is Better Than Nothing
If you can only get to the gym for half an hour, is it worth it? You bet it is. You can get a lot done in a half hour and it helps keep you in the habit of staying active. Spending some time at the gym is better than spending no time at all.
Have a Cheat Day
Whether it’s a cheeseburger, chocolate ice cream or French fries, banning your favorite cheat meal, is bound to backfire at some point. You will eventually buckle, binge, feel bad about it and revert back to your unhealthy eating habits. You don’t need to have tempting treats lying around your kitchen, but allowing yourself to have a few cheat meals a few times a week won’t kill you.
Treat Yourself
If you got to the gym three times this week or ran your first mile without stopping, make sure you treat yourself! Choose a “non-food” reward such as a weekend getaway, a mani-pedi, a massage or some new fitness gear. Your hard work should never go unnoticed!
Don’t Let Nerves Get in The Way
People are often afraid to try something new. This is completely normal. Just remember that everyone was the new kid at one time. Don’t let your nerves stop you!
In Conclusion:
Take the time to acknowledge all the things you’ve accomplished this year. Give yourself a pat on the back for any and all signs of progress, no matter how small. Stay committed to doing the best you can, find things that keep you motivated and don’t forget to remind yourself “Why” this is so important to you. You matter and your health should too. Happy New Year and good luck to you!
Progress Personified
I have been a personal trainer for over eighteen years and I absolutely love what I do. I honestly feel that I have one of the best jobs out there! The most rewarding part of my profession is helping one of my clients succeed at reaching their personal fitness goals. Making a difference in someone’s life makes it all worthwhile. I am currently certified by the National Sports Conditioning Association, Apex Fitness Group, and the International Sports Science Association.
