Ways to Stick with Your Fitness Resolutions
It’s not uncommon for people to make fitness resolutions for the New Year. It’s also not uncommon for many of those resolutions to fizzle out as the months go on. Maybe you have set fitness resolutions for yourself in the past and failed to see them through. It can be quite frustrating, but with a little guidance and intention, you can stick to your plan. In this post, we will look at a few ways you can be successful with your fitness resolutions this year.
Be Specific About Your Goals
Everyone’s fitness goals are going to be different. Maybe your focus is on weight loss, or maybe it’s about toning up or bulking up. Maybe you are at the weight you want to be, but feel out of shape and sluggish throughout the day and just want to optimize your health overall. Be specific about your goals. Do you want to be able to complete a 5k race or do 30 pushups in one round? Write everything out. Set milestones for yourself and track your progress.
Get an Accountability Buddy
Working toward a goal or engaging in an activity you’d rather not engage in is so much easier when you are doing it with someone else. Talk to a friend, a significant other, or a family member and ask if they would like to join you on your fitness journey. You can set up a schedule throughout the week to work out together, prep and cook healthy meals, and just be there for one another in moments when you feel you might be struggling.
Make It Fun!
A big reason why most people dread working out is that it can just be plain boring and painful. That isn’t the way exercise should be! If you don’t enjoy running five miles, don’t run five miles! If you hate running on a treadmill, you may find it’s not running that’s the problem; it’s the treadmill. Instead, you might find you enjoy a jog through a hiking trail or somewhere outdoors surrounded by beautiful scenery. Some people love swimming or doing yoga, while others might enjoy tennis or martial arts. Explore a few different sports and exercise programs until you find something you are passionate about. When it’s fun, you won’t dread doing it. Instead, you will be excited about that part of your day.
Clean Up Your Diet Strategically
Getting fit and healthy isn’t just about hitting the gym and working up a sweat several times a week. A very fundamental part of getting fit is changing your diet. Something that will help tremendously is keeping a food diary and taking note of all the calories or macros you consume. If you have a max number of calories you plan to consume on a daily basis or a max number for each macro, record everything you eat and count the calories and macros. Another thing that might work for you is meal prepping. If you have a busy week, it may be tempting to hit a fast-food drive-thru or order takeout instead of consuming a nutrient-dense meal. When you have all your meals planned out and prepped ahead of time, it will be much easier to stick to healthy foods.
At the end of the day, what is most important is replacing processed and sugary foods with clean, healthy foods. Stick to vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes. Pay attention to the liquids you consume as well. Opt for teas, fruit-infused waters, and coffee instead of sugary juices, soda, and alcohol. Always remember as you embark on your fitness journey that clean eating and physical activity go hand in hand.
Treat Yourself
Your fitness journey is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s not a good idea to plan to eliminate everything like sugar, alcohol, and carbs from your diet and replace that with celery sticks and two-hour workouts only to find yourself completely burned out. Pace yourself. Give yourself a cheat day. If you are craving something sweet, make yourself a fruit smoothie or nibble on some chocolate. Your fitness journey should not be utterly miserable. Sure, there will be moments when workouts are painful, or you have to exhibit more self-discipline than you normally would, but it shouldn’t feel like torture. Enjoy your life and have the occasional slice of cake, especially after a vigorous workout. You earned it!
Set a Workout Time
People thrive when they have a routine. Before you even start your fitness journey, have a plan for when you will work out. Some people do best working out first thing in the morning, while others do better with a midday sweat session or an evening gym session after work. It doesn’t matter what time you work out so long as it’s the same time every day.
Are you seeing your fitness resolutions through this year? Shop Lands’ End today to stock up on any workout gear you need, including one-piece swimsuits, backpacks, leggings, or bras.