Tips for Fitness-Oriented New Year’s Resolutions

Whether you have an actively used membership at the local fitness center or spend most of your exercise routine on home treadmills, the new year is the perfect reason to ramp up your fitness regime. Think about it, the new year represents a new beginning for everyone who celebrates the holiday. Regrettably, it also tends to represent a fair amount of excess for many of us as the celebrations for the event can get a little bit…loud. Nonetheless, it behooves all of us to take this turning of the season to focus on some of the things that we want to improve about ourselves. This year, whether you’re happy with your current level of fitness or not, make it a healthy 2015 by adding several health goals to your new year’s list of resolutions. Worried that you’ll start out strong but fall off with your goals by the time Valentines Day rolls around? No worries. While it’s certainly a possibility that things won’t go perfectly, following these three pointers can ensure that you’re ready for every obstacle the new year throws at your fitness goals.

Realistic Goals are Key
One of the simplest ways to throw your fitness goals into limbo is by starting with ones that you simply may not be able to achieve. While it may not be what you want to hear, if you’re starting the new year from a neutral body type, you probably won’t become Mr. Universe. That’s okay, though, and this type of honesty with oneself is absolutely crucial when it comes to setting goals. Think carefully about a few aspects of your life that you want to improve upon and set goals accordingly. If you can run an eight minute mile right now, shoot to get that time down to seven minutes and 30 seconds by the time the next New Year’s Eve rolls around. Not only will you be more likely to achieve your goal in the long run, but you may even exceed it, which feels even better.

Make Sure You Have the Right Fuel 
If you’re coming into the new year with ambitious fitness goals, it’s imperative that you adjust your diet accordingly to ensure that your body has the right fuel to work with. Muscle and Fitness has reported that one of the best ways to ensure this works out for you is to begin each day with a protein intensive breakfast. Try replacing your usual cereal, oatmeal or breakfast bar with something richer in muscle-building protein such as lean meats or hard boiled eggs. These foods will not only help you recover from the workout of the day before, but will also put you in a far better place to attack the day from a fitness perspective.

Reward Yourself
One of the most common ways that people drive themselves away from completing the fitness goals that they set is by not ever rewarding themselves. Humans operate best when we’re given proper motivation to achieve our goals. When you find that you’ve made good progress en route to getting to your desired level of fitness, make sure that you give yourself a small reward, such as a new pair of training shoes or a lavish dessert. You’ll feel good knowing that you’ve earned it, and you’ll also find new motivation to reach the next milestone on the way to achieving your ultimate success. Determine what kinds of rewards work for you early in the year and stick with them.