It’s crazy to think the first half of 2018 has flown by and that we’re already in July. Even though I kind of find the thought of New Years Resolutions to be corny and overhyped, at the start of this year I set out to take my health and fitness way more seriously. I am happy to say that I’ve stayed on track with my goals for the first half of the year. Here are a few of the key changes I made and tips to help you start or get back on track with your fitness goals because it’s truly never too late!
1. Adjust Your Goals
The first part to staying on track with your goals is to make sure they are the right ones for you. I’m not saying that means to give up altogether but consider what it means for you to be “fit” and how that may be different from the person next to you. For so long I had this weight goal in my head which I think I could have reached if I really tried but eventually I realized I could maintain the same weight and lose inches around the waist. So my goal could have been based on weight, my BMI, the way my clothes fit, or, my personal favorite the way I felt. Ultimately I decided a personal goal of mine was to feel stronger and to be consistent. Notice how that’s a fundamentally different goal from shedding 10 pounds. Once I shifted my mindset to goals that were both attainable and healthy, it became much easier to reach them.
Ultimately I decided a personal goal of mine was to feel stronger and to be consistent.
2. Document Your Journey
It’s so easy to believe that you’re not inching towards your goals when you have no proof to show for it. At the start of the year I took pictures every couple of weeks to document any progress. This was the best decision ever for two reasons. First, If you underestimated how much growth you’ve made, the pictures will boost your confidence and confirm all your hard work is paying off. On the flip side, if you’re not satisfied, those pictures can serve as increased motivation to get yourself in the gym!
It may be overwhelming at first to completely overhaul your diet in exchange for a new one so my advice is to start small and then work your way up!
3. Start Making Substitutions in Your Diet
The biggest part of living a healthy lifestyle is what you eat so it’s only right that I touch on the diet portion of things. I’m no expert in this area and there are plenty of different diets out there that work for some and not for others. What I do know is that there were certain small changes I made had a huge impact. For example, I made the switch from cow’s milk to almond milk and made sure all of the carbs I consumed were whole wheat. These changes made me feel less sluggish and weighed down during the day. It may be overwhelming at first to completely overhaul your diet in exchange for a new one so my advice is to start small and then work your way up!
4. Use a Training App
The most daunting part about committing to a fit lifestyle was figuring out what in the world I was supposed to do with all the equipment in the gym. What does a leg day look like? What exercises are best for your arms and chest? To answer these questions I enlisted the help of an app created by @nissafit. Her app is affordable but also gives you access to workout and meal plans for an entire month. The workout plan includes both gym and at home workouts for days when its more convenient for you to workout at home.
5. Take Fitness Classes
When I workout solo, there’s always a chance I can get tired and decide to call it quits earlier than I had anticipated. An easy way to solve this early cop-out problem is to take fitness classes. Fitness classes such as spinning, zuumba, kickboxing and more make it harder for you to leave early. Everyone else is there for the duration of the class so there’s kind of a positive peer pressure to stick it out. Additionally you have access to an instructor who can help (read: push) you to do your best. When you’re consistent you may even build community with other regular attendees of the class!
This isn’t an exhaustive list but these are definitely tips that helped me stay on track with my fitness goals this year! What are some tips and tricks that have worked for you? Comment below with yours especially if they aren’t already on this list!
#EniGivenSunday
