I have been struggling with my fitness for many years now, and when the clock struck midnight on the 1st of January 2016 I decided quietly to myself that this was going to be my year for fitness and health. It was a lofty goal, considering how many times I had yo-yoed and bounced around from fad diet to fad diet, but I made a plan and decided that I wouldn’t fail this time. I want to share with you my top seven tips and tricks for achieving your fitness goals this year, because if you don’t have a plan, you’re not going to see success come your way. Part of the success I have enjoyed so far is definitely down to my signing up for krav maga in Melbourne and learning the subsequent discipline that comes with this martial art. Of course, you don’t have to be doing a martial art to have discipline, and I’m going to share my tips here with you.
Tip One: Figure out how ready you are
If you have a great goal in place but it’s vastly unachieveable, you might be setting yourself up for failure. You need to make sure you’re both physically and mentally ready for the challenge of starting an exercise routine. If you’re overweight or haven’t exercised for a few years, you will probably want to consult with your doctor prior to beginning your routine so that you know what your potential limitations are.
Tip Two: Have a plan
Before you get started on any kind of exercise routine, you need to figure out when you’re going to be exercising and to work out what times of day (and what days) are going to prime you for success. If you’re not a morning person, you need to consider whether an early start is best for you, or if you’re more likely to work out in the afternoon or evening. Figure out three times in a week where you’re free and will be able to exercise. That way, you can’t make excuses and beg out of working out!
Tip Three: Involve a friend
If you have someone who you’re going to be working out with, you’re going to have a buddy who’ll encourage you to work out, and who you will have to answer to. A fitness partner increases your chances of success and can make it more fun, and you’ll also have an inbuilt support system!
Tip Four: Don’t go out too hard and burn out
This is a lifestyle change, not a gung-ho attempt to join the Navy SEALS. You’re far more likely to succeed if your plan is measured and scaled to succeed. You will want to start off training a few times a week and then build from there. A fifteen minute walk three times a week is plenty for a start, and then you can build it up to twenty minutes, and then a jog, and then a run, and then add in more days once you have your routine going. A hard routine will also mean that you’re less likely to want to do it, so take it easy to start with.
Tip Five: Be real with yourself
This kind of ties into the previous tip – and you need to be practical with what you can achieve and by when. Set realistic goals (SMART is a good acronym – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound) and track your progress to celebrate the wins.
I hope that you manage to find the strength to carry on with your fitness goals for 2016 and that you make it your year for fitness. Stay strong and visualise your success, and you will find yourself kicking the goals you want.
