You ate and drank your way through the festive seasons with maybe a few workout sessions here and there. Now, reality has set in, it’s a brand new year!
January and February have passed, how is that fitness resolution of yours coming up or are you still working on it? Well, it’s alright to take a couple of months to decide your fitness plans. However, it’s time to step up and set those commitments under motion with the intention to achieve it.
So, what are your fitness resolutions this year? Is it to lose weight and be healthy? Whatever they might be, getting started all over again is quite the challenge but sticking to it can be a little harder than thought.
For starters, know that you are not alone! Coming up with an entire resolution isn’t easy but it is still possible and most of all achievable. To help you get on your feet and sweat out, we’re determined to share some tips on how to get back to training and most importantly, sticking to it for lasting results!
#1 Choose an activity you’re genuinely interested in
If you aren’t much of a gym-fan, that’s alright! Instead, make workout fun by choosing something you truly enjoy. For instance, it can either be running, cycling, hiking, swimming or even as fun as zumba. If you enjoy doing it, you’re much more likely to continue implementing it into your daily lifestyle after a hectic day.
#2 Location should be a priority
While the new gym you’re interested in looks great but is situated further from your workplace or home, it will be ideal and a whole lot easier to stick to a place that is closer to you. This way you can weave it into your daily commute and not tire yourself out just by travelling. So, be sure to choose somewhere close by.
#3 Warming up should be a part of your routine
Warm-ups are often overlooked, but they are the key to your workout routine. Before you begin any kind of exercise routine, your body requires some form of activity to loosen up and stretch your muscles. Try to include five to 10 minutes of light cardio such as stationary jogging or jumping jacks. This will help you avoid muscle cramps and spasms during your workout.
Plus, it also improves flexibility as well as decreases your chances of injury.
#4 Check in on your body
When setting a new fitness goal, it also means that you need to check in on your body first. What we meant by ‘checking in with your body’ is that every body is different and understanding the current state of your body can provide you with valuable information. As an example, identify your strengths, weaknesses and most eminently catch signs of any underlying health conditions before creating a fitness resolution.
By doing so, you will be able to avoid any bumps along your fitness journey and help keep you motivated along the way.
Apart from that, assessing your body weight using the Body Mass Index (BMI) is another great way to keep track of your weight along your fitness journey. You wouldn’t want to be under or overweight now, would you?
#5 Set measurable goals
It’s time to make it specific! The more specific your goals are, the clearer your path to achieving it will become. Setting measurable goals allow you to keep track of your progress as well as ensure that you don’t overwork. Some examples of measurable fitness goals are:
- Running a personal best time over a long-distance run.
- Lifting a specific weight for the maximum amount you can lift.
- Learn a few swimming techniques slowly and then gradually benchmark your speed.
- Performing a specific number of repetitions of an exercise such as 12 sit-ups, pull-ups and squats.
#6 Keep track of your progress
Finally, yet importantly, tracking your fitness progress has countless benefits such as:
- You’re more likely to reach or surpass your goal.
- Allows you to be more efficient in your time and workouts.
- Make simple adjustments and modifications whenever needed.
- Helps to drive your focus and keeps you committed to your plan.
Sooner or later, if you don’t strike a balance between your daily activities, food intake and workout routines, your body will begin to burn out. The true path of fitness success is to set realistic goals to achieve your fitness resolution. Plus, it has to be consistent too!
Sources: BodySet, Livefit
