How to Stick To Your Fitness Resolutions

It’s that time again: the holidays are just around the corner, and everyone is thinking about the New Year and how they can make a fresh start.

Like most people, you may have fitness resolutions you want to commit to this year or health goals you want to crush. Also, like most people, you may have set and failed to maintain similar resolutions in the past. 

Don’t worry, though – you’re not alone. 

In fact, most people end up altering or abandoning the fitness resolutions they set. According to a massive study that looked at 800 million activities, about 80% of people who make New Year’s resolutions abandon them by the second week of February. 

Fortunately, you don’t have to become a statistic. Today, we’re talking about ways you can stick to your fitness resolutions and focus on creating habits that last a lifetime.

Let’s dive in.

Why Do Fitness Resolutions Fail?

So, what’s the deal? Goal-setters start with good intentions, so why do so many abandon their efforts?

The answer is simple: it comes down to how people set their goals. 

Most of us know it’s harder to achieve huge goals than small ones. For example, qualifying for the Boston Marathon is more difficult than training to run a local 5K. 

It’s also harder to achieve vague goals.

Let’s break that down:

Say two people set fitness resolutions for the new year. Person #1 sets the goal of “getting in better shape.” Person #2 sets the goal of losing 10 lbs in 60 days. 

Who is more likely to reach their goal? Person #2, because the goal is specific and measurable. 

While person #2 will know exactly when they’ve reached their goal, person #1’s goal is too vague to provide a meaningful framework or any key markers for success.

If you want to achieve your fitness goals, you’ve got to make them as specific and attainable as possible, so it’s easy to work backward and create a process that helps you obtain your objective. 

5 Ways to Stick to Your Fitness Resolutions This Year

Want to make your fitness resolutions work for you this year? Follow these tips:

1. Set SMART Goals

As we’ve already discussed, specific, attainable goals work best. To ensure your fitness resolutions fit that framework, follow the SMART model. SMART is an acronym for “specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.”

When your fitness resolutions are specific, quantifiable, realistic, relevant, and time-bound, it’s much easier to set yourself up for success and figure out precisely what you need to do to meet the goal.

2. Write Goals Down

Did you know that you’re more likely to achieve the goals that you write down? In fact, people who vividly describe their goals (and then put them on paper) are 1.2-1.4x more likely to accomplish said goals. 

With this in mind, write down your goals and keep the list where you’ll see it often. We also recommend tracking your goals, whether you want to lose weight, increase your workout intensity/distance/frequency, or gain or lose inches. 

3. Accountability

Fitness resolutions can be taxing because they require our physical, mental, and emotional involvement. The entire process is a lot more fun if you can work with a friend or fitness partner to hold yourself accountable..

There are a bunch of different ways to do this. Here are a few we recommend:

  • If your goal is to work out more frequently, get a gym membership or sign up for regular classes with a friend..
  • Keep things fresh by trying a friend’s favorite workouts and introducing them to yours.
  • Hire a personal trainer to keep you motivated.
  • Focus on workouts that take place in a small group – knowing other people are counting on you to show up is a great way to stay accountable.

4. Make Fitness Fun

There’s a tough truth about fitness resolutions: you’re unlikely to achieve them if you’re forcing yourself to do something you hate. 

With this in mind, focus on making fitness a fun and enjoyable part of your life. Invest in fitness classes you actually enjoy, or look for forms of activity that keep you moving and leave you feeling refreshed – walking in the park with a friend, biking, or swimming. 

There are dozens of ways to get fit and feel stronger, so ensure you’re doing something that works for you.

5. Take Care Of Your Health

You can’t rely on willpower alone to crush your fitness goals. You’ll need energy, physical power, motivation, recovery, and sleep to fuel and rest your body correctly. 

Because of this, we always recommend working with a nutritionist or health professional any time you start a new fitness resolution. A nutritionist can help you create a plan that meets your caloric and nutrient needs and keeps you feeling strong (rather than depleted) as you work toward your resolution.

In addition to eating well, ensure you’re getting enough sleep and taking rest days when needed.

Bonus: Give yourself some grace

Fitness goals are a marathon, not a sprint, so taking a long view is important. If you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up – just stick to tomorrow’s schedule. Listen to your body. If you feel tired or depleted, let yourself rest. When you’re realistic about what you’re capable of on any given day, you’ll be more respectful to your body and better equipped to meet your goals. 

Here’s to the New Year!

Are you ready to crush your fitness resolutions in 2023? We’re behind you all the way. Here at Alloy, we love seeing people push themselves for more wellness, strength, and satisfaction, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to help you during that process.

If you’ve ever wondered about the Alloy system, now is a great time to explore our model with one of our convenient Starting Point Sessions. 

During this unique session, one of our skilled trainers will work with you to create a fitness, health, and lifestyle plan that allows you to meet your fitness resolutions in 2023 and beyond.
Ready to learn more? Check out this video.

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