It’s February. How are those fitness resolutions doing?
After a burst of enthusiasm and determination in January, when many people make their health and weight loss goals, we are now a week into February, when, unfortunately, some of those fitness resolutions have started to slip.
One of the mistakes that many people make when they make fitness resolutions is they choose vague or general goals such as “I’m going to lose 20 pounds,” or “I’m going to run a marathon,” without creating a plan with which to achieve those goals.
Fortunately, it is never too late to start your fitness and health journey, whether it’s January, February, or even July. Here are some tips to help you hold on to those fitness resolutions.
5 Tips to Help You Hold onto those Fitness Resolutions
How are those fitness resolutions going? Here are 5 tips to get you back on track #Fitfluential
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Think Big, then Think Small
By that, I mean that while it is great to have a grand end-goal, like losing 20 pounds or running a marathon, breaking it down into smaller pieces will make it much more achievable and give you ongoing positive feedback.
For example, for a weight loss goal, break it down into monthly or weekly parts. Losing one or two pounds a week sounds much more obtainable, and, when it is achieved, will give you more encouragement to keep going.
Have a Plan
A plan is necessary for any fitness and health goal, and it should be specific. If your goal is to “get fit,” how are you going to do that?
Your plan should include precise details as to what you will do to achieve that goal. Will you work out three days a week, hire a personal trainer or a coach, join a gym, or create a workout space in your home? Write it down and get started.
Be Flexible, but Determined
Stuff happens. Life can interfere with our goals. Illness, accidents, work, all of those can make it difficult to stick with your plan. Don’t throw up your hands and decide that it just is too hard, or that it wasn’t meant to happen.
Instead, flow with it. So your child gets sick and you can’t make it to the gym for a week? Try short workouts at home that will, at least, get you moving (here’s a great 30-minute non-killer workout that needs very little equipment and is great for beginners).
Use a Support System
As with most things in life, pursuing health goals is much more achievable with support. Whether you find a workout buddy, an enthusiastic spouse or partner, or an online community with which to share your successes, a support system will help you stick with your plan.
There are also professional support systems that will help you achieve your fitness resolutions. Hiring a personal trainer will not only ensure that you have a personalized and safe plan, your trainer will help keep you motivated and accountable.
If a trainer is out of your price range, consider group training. With smaller groups and similar goals, the cost of group training is much more affordable. Or consider signing up for a few sessions to get you started. This is an investment in your health.
A nutritionist is also a good investment, especially if weight loss is your goal. There is a lot of confusing and misleading nutritional information out there. Hiring a registered dietician will help you sort it all out.
Don’t Give Up
Whatever you do, don’t give up. Re-start, re-focus, re-plan, but don’t stop. Remember your motivation. You can do this.
And now, my exciting news!
I was selected to be a part of the 2016 RockNBlog team!
I have to say that I am pretty proud that I was one of only about 100 team members chosen. While I have an outstanding running background, which includes 36 marathons, I don’t know how many half marathons, and a long ago marathon PR of 3:16, I am, ahem, a little older (and slower) now. So thank you, Rock and Roll, for realizing that I have a few more miles in these legs of mine.
Did you know that I ran the very first Rock and Roll Marathon, in San Diego, in 1998? I did! Then I ran the next five. Then knee injury took me away from marathons for a few years, but I came back and ran marathon #36 in 2014. In San Diego, of course!
So, I am very excited to be a part of something of which I was there at the very beginning. And, I may have gotten a little carried away with my Tour Pass. I jumped on it and signed up for 2016 Rock and Roll San Diego. As you know, I’m just coming back from my cracked patella injury and proud to have run six miles today. In my mind, June was a long way away. Then I did the math and realized I have about 16 weeks to get ready for 26.2. Oops! Stay tuned for the training plan.
I also signed up for the Carlsbad 5000. Now, while I can’t say that I was there at the very beginning of that race, I did run my first back in 1995. I love this race! Ask me and I’ll tell you about the time that Steve Scott, who has run more sub-4 minute miles than anyone (136 times!), paced me in Carlsbad one year. Yeah, so his wife JoAnn, who is about my age, was in the race too, but still…
Other races on my agenda include Las Vegas and Arizona 2017. And Los Angeles, which doesn’t have a confirmed date yet. And I’d love to do a race-cation to a location like Chicago or Savannah but I don’t know if that is in the cards. Am I getting a little carried away? Probably. But, at least, most of these events have half marathons too, just in case.
So proud to be part of the 2016 #RockNBlog team! What @runrocknroll race should I run first?
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I will have a discount code for you soon, so I hope that you will join me at one of these awesome events! (I’ll update this post and put it in my sidebar as soon as I can!)
How are your 2016 goals going? Don’t give up! What Rock and Roll race would you like to do? Which race-cation race should I do?
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Sunday Blog Hop with Jenn
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Meatless Monday with Annmarie
Inspire Me Monday with Janice
Anything Goes with Marilyn
Bonnie, the Pin Junkie
Tip Tuesday with Debbie in Shape
Wild Workout Wednesday with Annmarie, Michelle, Sarah, and Angelena Marie
Wednesday Wisdom with Nanna’s Wisdom
The Blogger’s Pit Stop with Kathleen
Let’s Get Real with Karen.
Friday Fitness with Jill
Fitness Friday with Miranda