7 Ways To Achieve Your Fitness Resolutions

By

1. Determine your why

You have successfully written down your goals—lose 10 pounds, pack a healthy lunch and snacks at least twice a week, go on a morning or post-work jog every day. You have the motivation, but the spark simmers down and you snooze one more hour. In other words, why is your why your why, or why do you want to achieve these resolutions? Is there inherent desire and ambition? Work out to love your beautiful body, to enhance your favorite body parts, to feel that post-workout adrenaline, to make only one trip from your car to the kitchen with those newly-toned arm muscles.

2. Start today

Every day is a brand new day filled with new possibilities and opportunities. Do not get discouraged if you miss a day or start on February 23rd. Sometimes the hardest part is just starting, while other times it is continuing. Whatever it may be, you are ready and thriving.

3. Recruit a friend

You are not alone in your fitness journey. Find someone who is also interested in going to the gym, keen to find trails to run on, or looking to meal plan. Keep each other accountable and check in with each other. Personal trainers offer discounts for private group sessions, and most gyms offer a refer-a-friend deal. There are many partner workouts on the internet that you can do so that neither of you will get burnt out from the same monotonous routine.

4. Find a class

I personally struggle going to the gym and working out on my own. I would walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes and call it a day. Having an educated trainer telling me what to do and seeing others doing 20 burpees alongside me is a great motivation. Take a class that you have been wanting to try—pilates, Zumba, Body Pump, Bootcamp—and see the amazingly consistent results. My schedule has begun to revolve around the group fitness classes I take. For example, I like going to Tuesday/Thursday morning HIIT, Monday/Saturday Zumba, Wednesday Body Pump, and Friday lap swims.

5. Set reminders

Write it down in your calendar that you will be going on a run Saturday morning at 7 a.m. Set an alarm an hour before you leave for the gym to mentally prepare yourself and to get yourself in the right mindset. There will be that inevitable voice in your head fighting for you to stay in bed a little longer or to go tomorrow. Commit to everything you set your heart to.

6. Take photos

This journey is worth every drop of sweat and every minute. Take that sweaty selfie and have no shame sharing it on social media or saving it for yourself. One of my favorite adages which I have added to is, “The only time you should look back is to see how far you have come, or when you are doing a hip stretch with a twist.” There are many people who are supporting you and who want to see you be your best self.

7. Love and reward yourself

You are already one step ahead of everyone else for setting your fitness resolutions. Revel in every moment of your workout. Embrace the soreness the next day. Picture the tiny tears in your muscles that cause them to strengthen. Feel your increasing heartbeat that circulates the oxygen you need to survive. Your body is an amazing creation, and it deserves all your attention and care. Working out allows you to eat ice cream guilt-free and go shopping for a new dress. May this new year bring you endless joy, laughter, and sweat.