5 Tips to Keep your Fitness New Year’s Resolutions

Millions of people around the world have made their annual New Year’s resolutions with good intentions. Then on January 1 (ok, maybe Jan 2), the gyms are packed with men and women motivated to achieve their fitness goals. However, maintaining this motivation can be difficult.

Now that it’s mid-January, many are beginning to struggle and may ultimately drop their efforts all together. Don’t let that be you!! Here are 5 tips to keep you motivated and inspired.

1. Identify the reason you want to make a change. Change just for the sake of change is not a good thing and destined to fail. Embarking on a new fitness regimen or healthy eating plan without a reason or just because it is a new year is no different. Identifying your reason for change will allow you set fitness goals and objectives to keep you motivated.
2. Make you resolution SMART. This is an old concept, but it works great in the health and fitness realm. Don’t simply state, “I am going to lose weight.” Your resolution should be SPECIFIC (e.g. 10 pounds), MEASURABLE (e.g. lower BMI, lower weight, looser clothes), ACTIONABLE (e.g. following a diet and workout program), REALISTIC (e.g. practical, truly achievable), and TIMEBOUND (e.g. month, 90 days, 6 months). Making resolutions SMART will enable you to establish your goals and desired results.
3. Find a time that works best for you. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Perhaps you have a spurt of energy during the afternoon. Maybe your day is crazed from dusk until dawn. All of these factors should be considered when determining the best time for your workout. Once you identify the opportune time, schedule it, and keep that appointment.
4. Find an activity you enjoy. Running, swimming, weight training, cycling, yoga, tai chi, cross fit, spinning, Pilates, zumba – the list goes on. There is no shortage of activities to enable you to find your inner fitness enthusiast. Personally, I enjoy a combination of running, weight training, yoga, classes at my gym, and my go-to workouts from Beachbody. Try different activities to see what you enjoy and what works best for you.
5. Document and track your progress.  Now that you know why you are making a change, established your SMART goals, and found a great workout activity you enjoy at a great time, make sure you document your starting point and track your progress each week. This can be done in a journal or any other media you are comfortable using. Also consider taking pictures to track progress visually. Not only is it a good feeling to refer back to the progress made, it can also alert you to if any adjustments in your fitness regimen is needed.

BONUS TIP! – Find others to hold you accountable! Tell your family, friends, and coworkers about your fitness objectives and keep them updated. It’s a great feeling to have others cheering you along the way.

FINAL THOUGHT -Make fitness a priority and commit to it! These New Year’s resolution tips won’t help if you are not committed to achieving your goals. Therefore, work hard with intensity and consistency to achieve your best you.

– Wishing you continued success in your fitness journey!