The opportunity of a new year, new starts and new beginnings often have us in an optimistic mood for what is ahead. It is great to have a resolution that includes fitness and your health. However, until there is an invention that transforms thoughts into effort – you have to put in the work yourself!
With all of that in mind here is a short list: Three things to forget & Three things to remember. These will help you set yourself up for success for this year.
Three Things to Forget
- __ days to __
Forget those gimmicks that promise or promote instant results in a prescribed amount of days. A commitment to your health does not stop after 30 days. In an age of instant gratification fight that urge to jump on that bandwagon when it comes to your health. Shortcuts are not sustainable.
- Slogans Like: “No Rest Days”…”All Or Nothing”…”No Pain No Gain…”
It is imperative that you allow your body to rest, especially when you are getting back on the fitness train. Even when you are well conditioned, still there are days where one allows the muscles to grow & recover and the body to refuel in some way. If you are all or nothing, then a day of progress but not completion is failure. Internalizing that idea can lead to frustration and self-defeating aspects of that could make one just stop. Lastly, a biomechanically solid workout does not have to leave you barely able to move or in pain. In fact, if you are in pain every time you do workout…it is just a matter of time until you are on the injured list. A challenging workout is one thing, painful is another.
- Numbers Are All That Matter
Forget defining yourself solely by your measurements and weight. It can be an ineffective strategy. Confidence, energy level, self-worth, ability to move better, better posture, feeling stronger… can’t be determined by just flipping a switch or getting a tape measure- and these are even more powerful. Fight the urge to succumb to the numbers. You are much more than that.
Three Things to Remember
- Start with What Works for You
It is simple but true – the workout that you actually do is the one that works. You don’t climb a flight of stairs from half way up. Start where you are right now & work up to a more challenging workout. Set the foundation, get in the groove then when you are gathering steam then start taking the stairs two at a time.
- Plateaus & Bad Days Can Be Part of The Process
Factors like doing the same workout, food you consume on a regular basis, stress or sleep can contribute to being stuck on a plateau. It may also be a good opportunity to keep track of these and other things. You will see a pattern in your behavior that affects your workouts. Once you see that pattern you know how you can break out of that plateau or decrease those bad days from popping up. We all have days where we wonder if our brain is actually connected to our limbs and feel out of sync. Push through it as best as you can. Keeping track of things may shed some light on why…but sometimes it is just one of those days. Celebrate the fact that you did it (easier than said done on the same day but you can on the next!) & you did not give up.
- Walk Backwards From Your Goal…Leave Breadcrumbs
Instead of thinking in terms of your resolution to happen this year – think of it in pieces that will make up the whole. Breaking up the main goal into months and even weeks can make the chance to crush it more reasonable. When you look at the bite sized pieces it will make you re-evaluate, refine & even change your fitness resolution.
