How can you keep those New Year’s fitness resolutions?
The New Year has officially began, and it’s that time again to make those resolutions. Some of the most popular promises people make to themselves are, of course, fitness related. Whether it’s to lose weight, build muscle, improve your endurance or become faster, it can be a challenge to stick to fitness resolutions once reality sets in.
However, deciding to develop healthier habits using your home gym equipment is always a good idea, so once the excitement wears off, it’s important to stay strong. There are many reasons people don’t stick to their resolutions, but it’s time to make this year different. With these useful tips, you’ll be able to stay on track and dedicate this year all about exercising on your home treadmill or stationary bike, and getting healthier.
Attainable goals: One reason exercise resolutions get abandoned is due to people setting goals they can’t possibly reach. Instead of setting yourself up for failure, break down your big goal – whether it’s losing so many pounds, running a marathon, biking a century or seeing muscle definition – into smaller, more attainable goals. That way, every time you reach a little milestone, it’s a celebration - and motivates you to power on until you fulfill your ultimate objective. More attainable goals can include increasing the amount of time you spend on each session of your True M50 Home Elliptical Trainer or moving from intervals of walking and running to a full run in one go. Creating realistic goals can give you confidence, and you’ll feel great each time you achieve one. You can also use positive reinforcement to reward yourself when you accomplish each task.
Make a plan: Another excellent way to stick to your resolutions this year is to make a plan. Having a visual representation of your workouts can keep you from being overwhelmed and allows you set your schedule accordingly. Whether you want to break it down by week or month, you can write out what each program will include on what days. This saves time when you actually start your workout on your True PS800 Home Treadmill because you won’t have to quickly come up with an exercise program for that session. Making a plan also requires you to a think ahead, so now your fitness is built into your schedule. You won’t be able to give yourself the excuse that you don’t have time, because you’ve made time.
Be accountable: Making yourself accountable will save you from finding reasons to skip workouts. Tell loved ones about your fitness plans. They will support you, keep you motivated and help you stay on track. Let them know each time you successfully complete a workout so you can celebrate together, or turn to them when you’re feeling overwhelmed by your objectives. They can offer advice and encouragement so you can continue forward to meet your goals.
Track progress: A method of being accountable to yourself is to track your progress. Keeping notes is also an excellent way to see proof of success. Before you begin exercising, take photos or measurements. Then every month you can repeat this same practice to see visual representations of your goals coming to fruition. It’s always important to keep track of the workouts you’re doing so you know when you need to make them more challenging. Another key is monitoring food intake. Whether you keep a food journal or count calories, being aware of what you’re eating can help you make healthier meal choices and not overindulge.
Don’t fixate on the negative: It’s always important to remember that no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. If you splurge a little too much one weekend or skip a workout, it’s not the end of the world. A slip up is not a reason to completely abandon your resolutions. Know that it happens, and teach yourself to be OKÂ with that. It can be easier to fixate on the negative rather than the positive, but try to alter that way of thinking. Instead of berating yourself for a mess up, congratulate yourself for a job well done. This will keep you more motivated to move past the negative event and continue on toward achieving your resolutions.