Happy New Year! Once again, we find ourselves at the beginning of a new year. Looking ahead, we envision success, happiness, new fitness goals achieved, new shoes, new gear- wait, I don’t want to get ahead of myself! Anyway, we also find ourselves making fitness resolutions and setting fitness goals that seem to never get fulfilled. It’s not as if we have don’t have every intention to fulfill each of these, we just seem to lose focus and allow them to trail off as we get deeper into the new year. With that in mind, here are a few ways to help you keep those resolutions, not only for the year, but for life.
First off, you have to set realistic, attainable goals. (Does this sound familiar? I hit on this topic last year.) Without going into extreme detail, you have to set goals that make sense. For the majority of the CF population, earning a position on the podium in the CrossFit Games later this year is not a very realistic goal. Sorry to burst any bubbles. However, improving your Fran time by 30 seconds may seem more reasonable; stringing together 50 double-unders may also be more in reach. Basically, set goals that are attainable for you and your current level of fitness. In addition to setting those goals, make a plan to reach those goals! This could be as simple as working on double-unders for 15 mins a day, 5 times a week. A simple plan like this can keep you focused and moving toward your goals.
Secondly, identify obstacles to your goals. Take a close look at your current overall health and fitness and think about where you want to be. What are the things that may complicate or even hinder your ability to reach your goals? What ever they are, write them down! Prepare for them, and even plan how to manage the obstacle. For instance, if you find yourself eating on the go often, you may not have the best food options to choose from. In this case, your poor meal choices are an obstacle to better nutrition. What’s the fix for this? Healthy-prepared meals that are ready to eat and easy to carry with you. There are countless companies that will prepare meals for you or better yet… Meal prep for yourself! It may be a little time consuming, but you have the freedom to make the meals you want. Keep them clean and healthy!
Another thing to consider is motivational interrupters. These can be simple things like the time of day you plan to train or even the friend that consistently urges you to engage in activities that do not mesh with your goals. Many of us have that person in our lives that would rather eat junk food and hang out on the couch or that family member that pushes you to have a few drinks after you’ve reached your limit. Often times, it’s easy to succumb to these notions instead of standing firm in your efforts to reach your goals. Once again, take a look at your current social life to identify these interrupters and devise a plan to manage them!
A tough part of maintaining your resolution is to be accountable for your actions. When you choose to miss a work out or decide to make less-healthy food choices, own up to it! Don’t blame your shortcomings on anyone else except yourself. You have to be responsible enough to accept the outcome of your decisions, especially if it takes you further from your goals.
Lastly, take it easy. Think of your resolution as a lifelong commitment to a healthier lifestyle. You are much more likely to be successful if you don’t jump in too quickly and push yourself too hard early in your training. For instance, you may see people exercising at a very high level of intensity. It doesn’t mean that you should do the same! Ease into the workout at your pace. This also translates to the nutrition. Immediately adopting new eating routines can be overwhelming. Try to get a complete understanding of your nutritional goals and make a plan to prepare for the changes. If possible, contact your coach for some guidance or even a friend that is shooting toward similar goals. A program like EFCs Fit 4 Change is a great program that will give you a jumpstart to your new health and fitness lifestyle!
Making a resolution for the New Year can be a daunting task, especially if you want to take it seriously. Don’t make it any tougher than it already is! Focus on what you’re already doing well and plan for the challenges. Use some of the tips outlined here and seek out other solutions that may help you keep your resolution – not just for the year, but for life!
I hope that this New Year brings you success and happiness in all your endeavors! Stay on the Grind and remember that Ability is Limitless!!!