The start of a new year is a fantastic time to set new goals, and improving your fitness is a goal that helps you look and feel better. But where should you start? Read on to learn how to make manageable changes in your life so you can stick to your fitness goals all year, and beyond.
Start with SMART Goals
We’ve all been there. You get motivated and set a New Year’s resolution to be more active, but fail to follow through. Often, that’s because the goal is too big or too nebulous. Instead, try working with SMART goals (which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound). This helps you to take the smaller steps necessary to make sure your fitness goals are achievable. Here’s how to get moving.
Get specific about your goals
It’s not enough to just say, “I want to get in shape this year.” Make sure that you start with fixed and distinct goals for yourself so you know exactly what you’re trying to achieve. Goals like improving your resting heart rate, walking three miles every weekday, eating more whole foods, or even fitting into a favorite sexy workout outfit all give you clear, exact goals to work toward.
Make sure your specific goals are measurable
Once again, making a goal like, “I want to improve my fitness” is too vague. Make sure your goals are specific enough to be measurable. Whether it’s tracking the number of pushups you can do, working up to running a 5k, or losing 10 pounds or a dress size, you need to be able to measure your progress.
Set goals that are attainable
Another reason people fail to meet fitness goals is that they’re overly ambitious. Set yourself up for success by making goals that you can achieve! There’s nothing wrong with feeling challenged, and it’s good to stretch beyond your comfort zone. Just make sure your goals aren’t entirely beyond your reach.
Make a fitness plan relevant to your goals
If your goal is to be able to do 20 pushups, but your fitness plan is running-based, your plan isn’t currently relevant to your goals. If you add twice weekly yoga to your fitness plan, including Chaturanga (or a yoga push up), your plan can now help you meet your goals.
Set a deadline for attaining your goals
You’re less likely to meet a goal if you don’t give yourself a specific timeframe in which to achieve it. You can give yourself a full year to achieve your goals, or you can set mini-goals for each week or month. Just make sure you have specific achievements attached to specific deadlines. That way, you’ll know if you’re on track, or if you need to step up your game.
Get Motivated to Work on Your Fitness Goals
Once you’ve set your SMART goals, you can feel confident you have attainable goals and a timeframe and plan to achieve them. So now it’s time to get motivated!
There are plenty of different reasons people feel motivated to improve their fitness. For many people, it’s tied to how they look and feel. It’s important to remember that a healthy body is a beautiful body, regardless of its size or shape. Still, feeling good about the way you look and feel is important for your self-confidence. So how can you jumpstart your motivation for sticking to your fitness goals? These tips can help.
Prioritize your nutrition
It’s hard to maintain your energy and your motivation for fitness when you’re hungry, dehydrated, or eating poorly. Make sure you’re eating a healthy diet filled with whole foods and plenty of protein and veggies to keep your body moving and feeling great. But don’t restrict yourself too much either. Depriving yourself can make you overindulge later, so if you want that cookie, have it! Enjoy treats in moderation rather than restricting yourself to the point of being miserable.
Get sexy workout clothing
You might not think that your workout attire will change how you feel, but it can have a big impact on your motivation and self-confidence. Just like wearing your favorite outfit gets you pumped for a night out, sexy activewear can make all the difference in whether you want to hit the gym or not. When you’re really struggling to get out the door and meet your fitness goals, put on your sexiest workout clothing and you’ll feel a whole lot better.
Workout with a buddy
It can be especially hard to motivate yourself to workout alone. A workout buddy can help with both motivation and accountability. Whether you make a regular plan with the same person, or switch between friends, partners, and family members to help keep you moving, working out with someone else can make it more fun. Throw on those sexy fitness clothes, get out there, and sweat together!
Keep it interesting
If you get bored with going to the gym, find ways to keep your fitness routine interesting. Go for a new hike every weekend, or find a new running route each week. Take a variety of different yoga or dance classes, or subscribe to a fitness program offering different types of workouts. Find a fitness community or set small milestones on the way to your final goal. Change what you wear, whether it’s wearing workout lingerie or other hot female gym outfits, to keep you going. Shake it up however you need to stay focused on your end goal.
Don’t neglect self-care
Working toward a fitness goal can be hard, so it’s important not to skimp on self-care. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night, eating well, and drinking plenty of water. Any uptick in physical exertion is bound to come with some soreness, but if your body really hurts, listen to it. Hurting yourself will set you back anyway, so take care of any injuries and remember that rest days are important too.
Start the new year off with these SMART fitness goal tips and you’ll be feeling better, looking better, and improving your confidence and mood before you know it.
Jaclinne Cheng, Director of Sales and Marketing for Spicy Lingerie
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