10 Ways To Finally Stick To Your Fitness Resolution

We’ve all done it. We’ve made New Year’s resolutions with full intentions of sticking to them. January hits us hard, and we’re struggling to keep up. We start missing days, weeks, and before long we’ve quit altogether. Sound familiar? You’re not alone; 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February, but yours doesn’t have to. Here are 10 tricks to ensure you reach those goals once and for all.

1. Get Real – Resolutions are often too broad. They aren’t specific enough to keep us driven. Making smaller, specific and most importantly realistic goals are the key to success. Instead of saying, “I am going to run a 5k by the end of the year”, try breaking it down to smaller distances quarterly. Go ahead and schedule the race as soon as you can to add fuel to the fire.
2. Ask For Help – It’s okay to ask for help. The worst thing you could do is try exercising without using proper form. Think about hiring a Personal Trainer or watching reliable YouTube videos that break down proper form. You can even ask me here!
3. Make It Social – One of the best ways to stay accountable is to find an accountability partner or group that is there to support you on your journey. If you can’t find someone local to join you for a workout, find a facebook group, like SimplyFit Women, that will be there to celebrate your wins and push you through your setbacks.
4. Mark Your Calendar – Make your new fitness journey a priority. If you write it on the calendar, you are more likely to stick to it. Pick a time that is realistic for you to stick to and get into a routine.
5. Switch Things Up – After the excitement of starting a New Year’s resolution fades, it’s easy to get bored with your routine. Switch things up and experiment with trying new classes or machines at the gym. Yoga is a great form of exercise that I highly recommend trying if you haven’t already.
6. Fit The Part – It’s okay to spoil yourself a little bit when you start a fitness journey. Get yourself a new outfit to look the part and help you get pumped to hit the weights. When rewarding yourself for your progress, opt out of food treats and buy that cute sports bra you’ve been eyeing.
7. Track Your Progress – We tend to always look at the number on the scale to show us our progress, but there’s so much that the scale cannot see. Be sure to take progress photos and measurements throughout your journey to see your progress and to stay motivated.
8. Reevaluate – There is no one size fits all when it comes to fitness. If your goal is to run a 5k and you realize you hate running, you might want to change your goal. If your goal is to lose 50 lbs and you’re not tracking accordingly, it’s okay to scale back and set a smaller goal of 25 lbs. Remember, this should be a marathon, not a race. You should want this to be your new lifestyle, not a short-term fix.
9. Rest – If your goal is to workout 5x a week but you’re too sore, don’t push yourself. Give your body time to rest and repair before breaking down those muscles again. Even your best athletes need to give their body rest. If you miss a workout, don’t stress. Without proper rest, your body won’t be able to perform to its best ability.
10. Be Forgiving – It’s okay to not be perfect. It’s okay to fall off track and miss goals. What’s not okay is to beat yourself up over it and eventually give up altogether. If you have a bad day, don’t throw the whole week away. Don’t wait until Monday. Start fresh the next day and leave the slip-ups in the past. Always be forgiving and keep moving forward toward your goals.

If you find yourself lost in the gym, our Online Training Program is a great tool to help you stay on track. Read more about it here. Or join our SimplyFit Challenge Waiting list to secure your spot in our next 6-Week Challenge!