With the New Year just around the corner, now is the perfect time to create some fitness resolutions! However, we know that many people make these resolutions and fail to follow through. To battle this trend, let’s change our mindset and realize that fitness resolutions can be made any time of the year! It is never too late or too early to hit the reset button on your workout practices (or lack thereof) and start from scratch. Make the resolution right now, and attribute it to your insane level of commitment, rather than the coming new year. Take a look at these three steps to consider when gearing up and creating a plan for your new fitness lifestyle.
1. Take a Body Inventory
You have to start somewhere, so you might as well start with a head to toe inventory of your best resource for action: your body!
Assess your level and ability in these core areas:
- Aerobic and muscular fitness
- Flexibility
- Body composition
Other variables to consider:
- Existing medical conditions
- Past injuries
- Age
Create a fitness journal and log your personal assessment as your starting point:
- Time it takes you to walk a mile
- Your pulse rate before and after you walk the mile
- Number of pushups you can do without stopping
- How close you are to being able to touch your toes (with straight legs)
- The measurement around your hips
- Your body mass index (BMI)
2. Set Some Solid Goals
Goals are a great way to keep you motivated and hold yourself accountable.
Consider why you want to start a new fitness routine. Do you want to:
- Lose weight
- Spice up your existing routine
- Train for a race or sport
- Simply feel better
Whichever category you fall under, having an attainable plan will keep you moving forward and bring you closer to reaching your goals.
The more simple the goal, the less motivation it takes to achieve it!
- The key is to start small and know that you cannot run before you walk.
- Take some larger goals and break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces.
Questions to ask yourself:
- How many pounds do I want to lose?
- What is my ideal physique?
- Is fitting into a smaller clothing size my aim?
- What do I want to feel like in my new body?
Visualizations are extremely helpful in this area. When you ask yourself these questions, you are creating goals that are more specific to you. Visualize these goals and they will become even more attainable!
3. Establish a New Habit
Doing something consistently for long enough makes it a routine. Make your new workout plan a routine and you will naturally begin to look forward to it!
Working out can become as normal as:
- Brushing your teeth
- Taking a shower
- Watching your favorite show
- Or even eating
Make your workout habits unique to you! It will be tougher to stick to them if they are geared towards someone else.
Make a habit of tracking your progress. Keep your workout journal close by and enter in new fitness accomplishments as they happen. Gauge your results by re-measuring those items you did when you started. Make a plan to track certain results daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Measuring and logging this progress will give you the mental momentum you need to keep going!
Ditch your excuses and your negative thoughts. Practice some positive self-talk and realize that you can do this! Create a realistic plan with attainable goals, and make a habit of your new routine. By changing your way of thinking (not just your actions), you will begin to notice the long-term results!
