Starting a resolution of working out is a goal many individuals have when the new year begins. No matter if you want to lose 100 pounds or build muscle in your arms, you might feel discouraged if you cannot easily see progress with your goals. Or, perhaps you know what you want to do, but you don’t know how to begin. Reaching your fitness goals is not unlike other plans in life, such as graduating school or preparing for a trip somewhere. It all starts with how you can decide on and track your goals, remembering to never give up along the way.
Create A Plan Of Action
Before doing anything, it’s important to create a plan of action for your workouts. Maybe you would find it easier to work out if you broke it up into smaller segments throughout your day. 10 minutes in the morning and afternoon, followed by half an hour in the evening might be attainable for some folks. Or, you’d rather do an hour in the morning to get everything done with. Whatever your preference, decide on when you can work out and what you want to focus on during your sessions. Use an app, pen and paper, a planner, or a chart, and start penciling in your workout days and times however it makes sense for you.
Start Implementing And Tracking Your Goals
Once you’ve created your action plan, you should begin your routines and start tracking how you are doing. It can be motivating to check off a box showing you’ve done your workout for the day or to see that you’ve completed three days of working out in a row. Keeping the momentum going is not only helpful in sticking to your routines, but it can show you what you are capable of when you put your mind to something. By implementing and tracking your workout routine, you can feel good about the progress you are making, even on days when you don’t see it.
Take Pictures For Progress
Speaking of progress, it’s important to take pictures throughout your journey. Take one at the start before you begin, and then keep taking pictures every couple of weeks. Doing so allows you to see when you are making noticeable changes thanks to your routines and dedication. You don’t have to show the pictures to anyone if you don’t want to. Simply taking and having the pictures allows you to see where you were and how far you have come, and you shouldn’t view the way you look as something to feel ashamed about. Just remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it might take some time to see the body you are hoping for.
Reward Yourself When You Do Well
When you stay on track with your routines and diet, make sure you reward yourself. It could be something that motivates you to work out even more, such as new workout clothing, or even a supplement that can help encourage your lifestyle, like green superfoods powder. Or, maybe you just need a day off from your routines. Either way, celebrating your success and milestones is important. It gives you encouragement to go back and continue the process and it allows you to feel a sense of pride in yourself. If you were to put in all the hard work without any reward, it would easily become discouraging, and you might not try to keep up. Even if your reward comes in the form of a sticker on a chart, you should congratulate yourself.
Don’t Get Discouraged If You Miss Workouts
There will likely come a day when you will have to miss a workout. It might be due to feeling sick, having something pressing at work, or even a family emergency. If one of these causes you to miss a whole day or even a week of working out, don’t feel as though you can’t get back on the bandwagon again. Life comes up and issues happen from time to time. Missing workouts and things you intended to do is part of life. It’s all about if you are willing to go back to where you left off that makes the difference.
If you are trying to reach fitness goals this year, it’s important to know how to start and stay on track. Creating a plan of action is necessary, along with beginning your routines and tracking them. By taking pictures of yourself for fitness progress, you can see that what you are doing does make a difference. Rewarding yourself when you are doing well can keep you motivated and on target. Finally, when you do miss a few days, don’t get discouraged and quit. Use this as an opportunity to remind yourself why you began in the first place and get back on the wagon.
