New Year, New Mindset
In 2017, think goals, not resolutions.
The New Year’s resolution. It sounds so nice and simple, doesn’t it? But here’s the thing: most of them fail. Up to 88 percent in fact, and those aren’t very good odds. If you’re a gym-goer, you know what we mean. It’s packed those first few days of the New Year, as three-quarters of people tend to keep their resolution through the first week of January. After that, the numbers begin to steadily drop off as we approach February 22nd, which Gold’s Gym has identified as the “fitness cliff”—the date that most people usually begin skipping the gym.
While it’s great that 75 percent of people keep their resolution through the first week, a full quarter of resolutions last fewer than seven days! It doesn’t have to be that way, however. The key to achieving your 2017 fitness goals is just that: come up with goals, not a resolution.
Use these tips to help you stay on top of your fitness goals as you head into the new year.
Short-Term Goals for Long-Term Gain
In theory, saying that you want to lose 20 pounds over the course of a year or cut your body-fat percentage by three points is great. In reality, it can become a long and arduous task that’s difficult to focus on, especially when things get tough. Achieving a goal is all about maintaining your momentum, and that’s a lot easier to do when you set small and realistic ones. Pick something on a shorter and smaller scale and knock it out of the park—for you, maybe that’s getting to the gym four times this week or losing a pound in the next two. This way you can also really see the progress you’re making. Add those small achievements together, and you’ll be amazed by the end result.
Focus on the Whole Package
Working out is only part of the goal-achieving mix. The other side is about eating right and living a healthy lifestyle when you’re not in the gym. Real, whole foods will help kick-start your metabolism and boost your energy, which in turn can inspire you to get to the gym. The cycle of smart eating and hitting the gym builds on itself as a reinforcing mechanism that will get you to peak performance. Check out our guide covering the best foods for every vitamin and mineral to get some ideas!
Find a Friend
We all need a boost sometimes. Having a workout buddy is a great way to stay in check and keep you heading back to the gym. Talk about your weekly plan and goals with this person so they can hold you accountable. Do the same for them. You don’t need to work out in tandem every time, but try to schedule at least one session a week where you and your buddy work to achieve your goals together. They’ll notice results that you might not and help you stay on track. Plus, if your buddy doesn’t have membership, Gold’s Gym allows members to give friends a 7-day free pass!
Learn more at Gold’s Gym.
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