It is a New Year and one of the most common resolutions is to lose weight (19%) and keep fit (10%), according to a Marist poll taken in December . I have been going to the gym for years and year after year it is the same, the gym is flooded with New Year’s Resolutioners and a month later, it slowly dies down. I must admit I was one of those people and not til the recent years have I changed my outlook on keeping fit. Realize that exercise isn’t a goal, it is a lifestyle change. Here are some tips on how to keep your New Year’s Resolution to keeping fit:
1. Set a Practical Health Goal – So we lose ourselves with numbers of losing 10-20 pounds but what really matters is your health, so challenge yourself and set practical goals. This is some examples I have used in the past:
- Time how fast you can run up and down stairs until you get exhausted
- In a given time period say 2 minutes, see how many times you can run up and down a hill
- Time how long you can hold a plank and squat, this tests if you are improving in strength
2. Set a Weekly Goal - Making goals of losing 10lbs will be short lived because it is a superficial goal which really has no substance behind it. I find that having a weekly goal like losing a pound a week is more realistic. Even if you don’t lose any weight, keep in mind that you are losing inches, so measure those hips, arms, thighs, etc. Also, try to take the Fat test which calculates the % of fat you have and occasionally check if this percent has decreased.
3. Schedule 7 Days of Exercise – You think I must be crazy. The thoughts also included ‘I am too busy. When do I have the time?’ I didn’t say you need to workout 7 days, I just said schedule 7 days because if you only schedule 3 days, sometimes life happens and you fall short of this goal and you’ll end up only exercising 2 days. At least with 7 days in mind, if life happens, you may only exercise 4 or 5 days which is better than 2 days. Also this puts you in a mindset that allows exercise to be a part of your life, instead of a hassle.
My New Workout Regiment:
Monday: Circuit Training
Tuesday: Hip Hop
Wednesday: Cardio
Thursday: Circuit Training
Friday: Cardio
Saturday: Yoga Challenge
Sunday: Hot Yoga
Set unachievable goals because you’ll be surprised, they are easier than achievable goals.
4. Go with a Workout Partner - Sometimes when your down and out, a workout partner will motivate you to move. Sometimes little push was all you needed. In my relationship, my boyfriend was the one whom kept on pushing me to workout when I was feeling lazy. Now after that initial push, I maintained it on my own because I changed the way I live and the way I think about working it. I love how it makes me feel especially on a stressful day after work.
5. Find an Activity that you Love – When you associate yourself with working out, you think weights, treadmill, bike, etc. I even get bored of this but there are other ways to keep fit so you won’t get bored of the same monotonous routine. That is why I have Yoga and Hip Hop on my schedule. Try joining an organized sports team for it obliges you to go out and exercise. I’m sure there will be a hobby for you that will motivate you to keep on moving.
I hope this will help you on your journey to becoming a better YOU!
- Liza Mae
