As the New Year approaches, many people are getting ready to start working towards achieving their New Years resolution. One of the most common resolutions for people to make is to improve their health. In fact, last year 48% of New Years resolutions included losing weight and 59% included working out more. Unfortunately many people don’t know how to stick to this, and by the end of January, roughly 20% of people have already given up on their goal! If improving your health is one of your resolutions then checkout these tips to help you be successful in achieving your fitness goal.
Know Your “Why”
The most effective way to change behavior is to have a very clear “why”. Why is this change important to you? I mean really important to you. Our brains are hard-wired to be on the lookout for anything that might be dangerous, challenging or uncomfortable (thanks to your pesky over-dramatic Amygdala).
Knowing this is helpful because when you are attempting to do something challenging (such begin a weekly workout regimen) your brain will serve up every excuse in the book as to why it’s too hard, too far of a drive or you’re too sore. It will simultaneously rationalize that you should stay in your comfy, warm bed instead. Having a crystal clear “why” will help you push through the initial stages of discomfort that is required for any type of meaningful change.
Plan Ahead
Don’t wait until you have the time! We must MAKE the time to accomplish our goals. Make a point to set aside time for the things that are important to you. Planning things out ahead of time can make them feel less stressful and your goals become much easier to achieve. Here are a few things you can do ahead of time to make a ‘healthier you’ easier to attain:
- Prep your food ahead of time.
- Plan all of your workouts for the week beforehand and add it to your daily calendar.
- Put your gym clothes (shoes, socks, underwear, a clean change of clothes) in a bag and always keep it in your car.
Stay accountable
Although it is important to be self-motivated, having a group or team to get in shape with is extremely helpful. Studies continuously show that accountability not only helps people in losing weight, but that people with group support are more likely to keep the weight off permanently. Whether you are a part of a community, in-person, or online, it is a huge advantage to your weight loss and fitness goals.
Set realistic goals
This one is HUGE! Making sure that our intentions are realistic is extremely important for our long term commitment and our self-esteem. For example, if we have never run a day in our life, setting a goal to run your first half marathon in one month probably isn’t attainable. But, setting a goal to run 3-5 miles per week definitely is. Those training miles will add up and you will be prepared for that marathon in no time.
Most people find themselves with a sudden burst of new motivation, only to take on too much, feeling burnt out and ultimately quitting. When you set small, realistic goals, you set yourself up for success because the task at hand doesn’t feel overwhelming. Remember that as you work towards your daily and weekly goals, you can always assess your progress and raise the bar if you need a greater challenge.
With 2020 reminding us how little we can actually control, take advantage of what we do have a say in: our health. The ONLY way to get results when it comes to our health is to BE CONSISTENT! So many times we overestimate what we can do in a month, and underestimate what we can do in a year.
Know your “why”, set small and achievable goals, add some accountability and most of all, stay consistent! Need help bettering your health in 2021? Try a free week with TriFIT Wellness!
