Surefire Ways to Stick to your Fitness Resolutions

Just 8% of people accomplish their New Year’s Resolutions.

Ouch.

For me, I usually never put too much emphasis on specific New Year’s Resolutions. I often make more broad goals to be a better, more healthier person in the new year.

When they are broader goals, they seem to be easier to achieve. Or, maybe it’s just that I don’t even realize if I don’t achieve them. I think it’s time for more specific, measurable goals. 

Last year I just wanted to sleep more (to my surprise, I did achieve that… for now).

This year I would like to keep up with my running, stay active, cook healthy meals for my family and try to be an overall better person.

Instead of making broad resolutions, I am determined to write down more specific goals. So, keep up with the running, will be changed to sign up for a race for every three months at least. Instead of cook healthier meals, my resolution is to increase our vegetable intake and avoid buying any sweets in favor of baking every once and awhile. 

I do have some tricks up my sleeve in order to stay out of the large percentage of people who do not stick to their resolutions.

Hopefully, my tips will work to keep me in the elusive 8% and, at the very least, make me a healthier person in 2015.

Head over to my fitness page for more fitness tips and exercises. 

Surefire Ways to Stick with your Fitness New Years Resolution

Surefire Ways to Stick to your Fitness Resolutions

1. Make a schedule

I have mentioned before that writing (or typing) your workouts into your calendar can help you stick to your goals. Often exercise is just an after thought. We say, I’ll exercise when I find the time. If it’s in your schedule, on the other hand, it can be difficult to avoid. There’s no excuse that you ran out of time because you already made the time.

2. Set realistic goals

A lot of people fail to meet their fitness resolutions because they set unrealistic goals. They plan to exercise 6-7 times of week or start running 5 miles every morning before work. Or, you make goals that are too broad to measure like I did. Set goals that you know you can and will want to keep- specific goals that you can measure. Start out small. You can always modify your goals as you become more fit. Try scheduling workouts 3 times of week in the beginning. Or, plan to start the Couch to 5K program which starts with a mix of running and walking.

3. Spice it up

Boredom may be another reason many people do not keep their fitness resolutions. I know I start off really excited about a fitness program or workout then eventually I get bored. This isn’t the end of the world, but your fitness level can go by wayside if you decide yoga isn’t your thing anymore without having a backup workout in place. Mixing up your workouts can also help prevent injury. My knees always start to hurt if I do not mix in weight training with my running.

4. Break it up

This goes along with setting realistic goals. It can be a lot easier to break up large goals into smaller ones. It is great motivation to achieve a smaller goal.  I know I would have never been able to run a half marathon when I first started running. The thought never even crossed my mind. Instead, I focused on running a 5 K, then a 10K, then 10 miles, until I worked my way up to a half marathon. Even though I have always thought a marathon was something crazy people did, now it is looking like a serious possibility in the future.

5. Enlist help

It can be very difficult to achieve your fitness resolutions all alone. There’s a reason studies say that people who eat right and workout are more likely to be friends with other people who eat right and workout. It is so much easier to stay fit when you are having fun. When I was training for my 10 mile race back in May, I couldn’t believe how much easier the long runs were with another person. If none of your friends have the same fitness resolutions as you, try joining Facebook groups or MyFitnessPal app. My family uses Strava to track our runs. I like that it allows people to comment and give kudos on one another’s runs. There are also challenges you can join to compete with other members of Strava.  Feel free to e-mail me at triciathegoodmama@gmail.com if you need support.

6. Change your mindset

The fitness resolutions that you are most likely to keep are the ones you can keep up with for the rest of your life. If you only think of a resolution as something temporary to get you into shape, then the moment you decide you are finished you will slide right back into your old habits. Focus on making good habits and you’ll find yourself in that 8%! Good luck and Happy New Year! 

Surefire Ways to Stick with your Fitness Resolutions

What are some of your fitness resolutions for the New Year? Let me know in the comment section below! 

Follow my Fitness-Exercises Pinterest board for workout ideas. 

Follow Tricia The Good Mama’s board Healthy Life- Workouts on Pinterest.
 

 

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