Progress Report: Did You Reach Your January Fitness Goals?
January is one of the busiest times of the year for fitness enthusiasts. It is a time where you may be setting new fitness goals, and pushing yourself past your comfort zone more than ever before.
If you set a fitness goal for yourself this January, did you achieve it? If you did, kudos to you! But, if you didn’t, that doesn’t mean you failed.
It’s helpful to look back to see what may have gone wrong, so that you can crush your fitness goals going forward.
Here are 5 ways to achieve your New Year’s fitness goals.
1. Set a realistic goal
When setting a fitness goal, the first step is ensuring it’s realistic. This doesn’t mean that you sell yourself short, but you also don’t want to set yourself up for frustration.
The fitness goal should be challenging enough so that you push yourself, but not so difficult that you give up. If you set the bar too high, you’re more likely to throw in the towel completely, making it harder to restart again.
For example, if you’re lifting 15 lb weights now, it may not be realistic to set a goal of lifting 40 lb weights in the next month.
Instead, try increasing by 5-10 lbs to a goal of 20-25 lbs. If you achieve that, then you can set the next weight goal!
2. Determine your why
A goal means nothing without a why. Your “why” is your reason for wanting to achieve your fitness goal.
Maybe your why is to improve your health, strengthen your heart, or to get physically stronger to make everyday tasks easier. Whatever your reason may be, visualize it and keep it at the forefront when you are working towards that fitness goal.
This will help keep you focused and on track on the days you don’t feel quite as motivated.
3. Create a plan
A goal only goes so far without a solid roadmap on how to achieve it. To stick to your fitness plan, you should determine the specifics of what you’re going to be doing.
For example, how many days a week will you exercise? When will you do it? Is there a certain time of day that you feel your best or are most likely to stick to it? How much time will you spend? What type of exercise will you do, and what do you enjoy?
Answer all of these questions first, then write down your plan in your calendar. If it’s written down and blocked out in your schedule, you are much more likely to follow through with it.
4. Find your tribe
When it comes to reaching your fitness goals, you don’t have to do it alone. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is paramount to your fitness success.
Enlist a friend to share your goals with, and ask them to check on you for extra support and accountability.
Joining a group fitness program or hiring a personal trainer can also provide an extra level of support. A trainer can help provide individualized guidance to make sure you’re making the most of every workout session.
5. Visualize your success
To stay motivated to exercise, it’s incredibly helpful to visualize your success. Instead of just focusing on the fitness task at hand, picture what it will feel like to achieve your fitness goal.
When you visualize what achieving that goal will look like, it can be incredibly motivating. How will you feel in your clothes? How confident will you feel walking into a room? How much more energy will you have to play with your kids?
Visualizing your life now and then what your ideal life will be can help catapult you to take action.
Setting a fitness goal and achieving it is not always a walk in the park, but it is possible. To make the process more enjoyable, focus on the positive and the small wins you experience along the way.