5 Ways To Smash Your Health & Fitness Resolutions

It’s the beginning of a brand-new year! You know what that means – a fresh start, a clean slate and a chance to make this year your strongest, healthiest and happiest year yet! Read on for 5 ways to achieve your health and fitness goals in the new year! 

 

1. SET MANAGEABLE GOALS 

To set yourself up for success, come up with a plan that’ll help you get there. 

Write down what you want to achieve in the new year and why. Then plan out how you can achieve these goals in specific, manageable and achievable steps. Think about what motivates and fuels you and remember to regularly remind yourself why you’ve begun this journey in the first place. 

Setting manageable goals is one of the most powerful and effective ways to reach your goals. This allows you to give yourself some direction, and reaching those small milestones will become huge achievements in your weight loss journey.  

 

2. KEEP YOURSELF IN CHECK 

The best way to find out if your hard work is paying off is by keeping track of your journey. You can do this by keeping a health & fitness journal and recording your weight and body measurements. The measurements we find most helpful in detecting your progress and keeping track of your health & fitness joureny are:  

1. Body Weight

Body weight is the most common form of measurement when it comes to weight loss and can be a very useful tool. We recommend weighing yourself at the same time every day and averaging your weights for the week. This is because weight can vary during different parts of the day (you are heavier at night after a day of eating than you are when you first wake up in the morning). It’s also important not to obsess over day to day weigh-ins as they are not completely reliable and not indicative of your overall progress.  As you lose fat and gain muscle, you may even find your weight increasing (this is because muscle weights more than fat), so make sure you use several measurement methods to really back up your progress. 

2. Body Measurements

Body measurements are a great way to track your progress. This method allows you to record the measurements of sections of your body, so you know where you’re losing the most weight and how your body is transforming. Grab a tape measure and measure your chest, waist, midway section (around the tummy), hips, thighs, knees and calves.  

3. Progress Photos

Progress photos are an incredible way to track long term weight loss and have a visual representation of the progress you’re making on your weight loss journey. Take full-body shots of your front, left and right sides, and back. Progress photos are not a very scientific form of measurement, but they are a powerful indicator of your progress and great motivators. Sometimes you won’t even realise the weight coming off until you look at an old progress photo from a month back! 

 

3. BE PATIENT 

You won’t achieve your goals overnight – all good things take time and you should remind yourself that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Lack of patience is one of the most common reasons people give up on their health & fitness efforts. Remind yourself that this is a process that will take some time, and progress might not always be obvious. Some days the scales won’t move, and you’ll feel like your weight loss is plateauing – just remember that it’s normal, and to keep going. Don’t be too harsh on yourself, but lack of patience isn’t an excuse to head to the pantry and stuff your face with chocolate! It takes time, but with discipline, determination, motivation and lots of patience, you’ll see and feel the improvements and you’ll be grateful you didn’t give up! 

 

4. MAKE IT FUN 

It’s great to take steps towards a healthier you, but it’s equally important that you enjoy the ride! It won’t always be easy but fostering positive feelings towards your health and fitness journey is an important step in building a good relationship with health. Losing weight shouldn’t be a dreadful experience. Find healthy recipes that you love, exercises you’ll enjoy and a workout schedule that will work harmoniously with your lifestyle. Remember to drink lots of water and don’t compromise on sleep! Once you get into the swing of things, you’ll not only look and feel good, but you’ll start to enjoy being active and eating healthy! 

 

5. DON’T GIVE UP 

As cliché as this one sounds, this is perhaps the most important resolution you can make. We know the journey is a tough one. Don’t give up! Turn to friends and family when things get tough, they just might give you the motivation you need to keep going. Plus, the Rapid Loss Team is always here to help you out! Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, confused or feel like giving up, reach out and send us a message, support@rapidloss.com.au, or call us at 1300 101 909.