Before I begin, allow me to make some guesses about your fitness goals. Guess number one: You have fitness goals for this year. Guess number two: Last year you may have achieved some or none of your fitness goals. Guess number three: You want to make this year different and achieve your fitness goals. If any of the guesses I have made regarding your fitness goals is true, you are reading the right article. In 2020, I achieved most of my fitness goals. However, in the previous year I did not accomplish any of my goals. In the sections below, I will walk you through the tips I deployed to achieve my fitness goals.
Set Smart Goals
I am sure you know what the acronym SMART stands for. In case you don’t, SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. I realized that non-specific goals like ‘get a six-pack’ will not help me achieve anything. Such a goal is vague, has no plan, has no deadline, and has no accountability. I realized that I had to set specific goals. So, I looked at my goal and reframed it as follows, “I want to get a six-pack by the end of the year. To achieve this, I will need to enroll in the closest gym and make sure I go to the gym at least three times a week. I will also watch my diet and avoid fast foods.”
After reframing the goal, I put in the effort and the time. By mid-year, I had cut a lot of abdominal fat but had not yet achieved a six-pack. By the end of the year, I had attained a four-pack and not the desired six-pack. I fell short of my goal, but I made significant progress compared to the year before.
Create a Dedicated Space
I know that this might seem like a luxury, but almost anyone can create a home gym if they have some dedicated empty space at home. With the right rented, second-hand, or lease gym equipment, you can set up a gym that is tailor-made for your workout habits. It’s a convenient and cost-effective way to achieve your fitness goals as you would not have to worry about commuting to the gym or pay monthly fees.
You don’t need a lot of space to create a home gym, and you can start with basic equipment such as resistance bands, dumbbells, and a yoga mat. If you have a garden, you can consider investing in garden room gyms, which are specially designed to be used outdoors and can provide a unique workout experience.
Make Time
At this point, I have identified my goal, and I have a system in place to help me achieve the goal. The next step is to create time to execute the plan. If my days are like yours, then you must feel like you never have enough hours in a day to spend between work, family, and other commitments. We are all busy, but I realized that I always make time for whatever is important for me. Therefore, I became intentional about scheduling time for my fitness goals. I reduced my television time and slotted my gym time after work to avoid postponing the session once I arrived home. Making sure I looked the part definitely helped to motivate me to get into the gym too – if your fitness wear needs a bit of an update, you could check out a site like Raise to see if they have any Nike coupons or discount codes that could help you save money on some new gear.
Track Your Progress
Fitness goals are hard to achieve because the results are not immediate. So how did I stick with the goal for a whole year? I got a desk calendar and tracked every time I hit the gym. I knew there are other tech products like fitness watches (for which details could be available on sites similar to mobilemob.com.au) that can track my daily calory burn, footsteps, workout hours, etc. But for now, I am satisfied with my calendar tracking. I felt good seeing my progress every week. I also knew when I was slacking off and took appropriate action.
Get Some Accountability
Peer pressure is not always a bad thing. Some positive peer pressure can help you achieve your goals. I discovered that it was easier to ignore a resolution I kept to myself instead of one that I had told someone. So, when the year began, I shared my fitness goals with my friend, and we kept each other accountable on a monthly basis. There are days I went to the gym just because I could not bear the thought of telling my friend I had missed all gym sessions in an entire week.