2 Tips for Sticking with Fitness Resolutions in 2021

Many people start off the new year with these grand resolutions and motivation to lose weight, go to the gym every week, or to maybe to do that 5K race you always wanted to complete, only to lose motivation by February or March. Not to worry if this is you. You are not alone. I will offer you two tips that will help solve this problem.

Tip #1 Set Goals

Maybe you are saying to yourself, "I already do this". If you think this is the case then please read further what I have to say about goal setting. Many people do set goals but they are often too general. For example, I will lose weight this year is a goal, but it is too general. An effective goal is one that has these elements. It needs to be Specific, Measureable, Realistic, have a time of completion, and have process goals. So let's take the goal of losing weight and apply these elements. My goal is to lose 15 pounds in 3 months which is specific, measureable, realistic, and has a time of completion. This is part 1. The second part is to set process goals that will set the behaviors that will get me to the goal. The process goals could be I will perform moderate to vigorous exercise 3 days/week, I will replace the high calorie sodas I drink every day with water, and I will replace the potato chips I eat for snack with vegetables with hummus. In setting these small, specific, measureable, realistic, and time oriented goals you will be well on your way to reaching your goal. One final point about goal setting is to be flexible with yourself. Things happen in our lives that may increase difficulty to sticking with that particular goal. Be willing to change it, if needed, and you will have a better chance of achieving it. This approach to goal setting gives you endless opportunities to make progress past the 6 month mark. Getting past 6 months with your goals is a good marker that increases your chances considerably of sticking with your goal!

Tip # 2: Find Social Support

One of the biggest barriers many people face when trying to achieve a goal is lack of support in achieving the goal. Lack of support is a major barrier to achieving your goals. It might be lack of support from your boss who places heavy demands on your time at work. It might be family members, i.e. spouse or children, that do not support your new found commitment to changing your diet or activity patterns. There are many other examples I could give, but my hope is you get the point. The point is that finding support from people in your surroundings will give you a better chance of achieving your goals and staying with them. The reason for this is that these support people can help encourage you and provide a better environment for you to be successful. Here are some examples to help you think about how to find support. You could find a coworker at work that will walk with you at lunch time or after work. You ask your family for their support to go on a family hike or bike ride. You can ask your family to help with duties like laundry and dishes that will give you more time to be active and cook healthy meals. You can also ask your children to help with cooking, teaching them about healthy eating, and it gives you more quality time together. Hopefully, you are getting the idea. The truth is there is always a way to find the support you need. Believe in yourself that you have what you need to make it work, and do not be afraid to ask for help. Feel free to message me. I will be happy to help and give you the initial support needed to jumpstart you towards restored fitness for 2021. You are worth it!