We’ve all been there: you have your vision board all decked out with what you want your fit body to look like, and the lifestyle that you can’t wait to accompany that. You’ve already bought the clothes you expect to fit into, and you’ve sworn up and down – maybe even made a New Year’s resolution or two – that this time will be different.
Then, two months later, you’re on the couch with a pizza box, wondering where it all went wrong. Sticking to your fitness goals is hard work, and without dedication and consistency, you can pretty much kiss your gains goodbye. If you’re looking for the right way to stick to your fitness goals, look no further; we’ve got you covered with five tips that will make sticking to your fitness goals totally achievable. Let’s dive in.
1. Get the right gear
First, having the right gear is make or break in the world of fitness routines. Your workout routine is your battle armor. It’s what you put on when you’re getting ready to hit your next run with all you’ve got, or max out on the deadlift at the gym, or stretch into the craziest pretzel you’ve ever seen during your next yoga flow.
The good news is that, psychologically speaking, your gear doesn’t have to be state of the art. Just having dedicated workout gear can get you in the right mindset to crush your next set of reps with gusto. Pick up a pair of cheap running shoes for men, store-brand yoga pants, or dollar store basketball shorts. Then, suit up, because it’s time to start busting your personal records like there’s no tomorrow.
2. Find an accountability partner
Working out solo can be restorative and relaxing, but nothing keeps you going like a little bit of friendly competition. Without an accountability partner, it’s easier to give yourself excuses about why you don’t really need to work out this week. Accountability partners are people who will join you, grow with you, and encourage you to always be your best fitness self.
While having an accountability partner who is a close friend or romantic partner is great, you can get away with other options too. Even asking someone you regularly see at the gym to help keep you faithful can work. Or, just have your mom text you to remind you to work out. Just having that other person there to help nudge you makes all the difference.
3. Track your progress
Knowing where you’ve been and where you’re going can help keep you motivated. Seeing those before and after pictures is a dream come true for those who have met their fitness goals, and keeping track of your progress along the way puts you in the head space you need to be to get there.
Take weekly pictures of yourself to see where your physique is at, or track your running mileage every week to see how your time improves. Then, as you incrementally increase in strength, seeing the fruits of your labor will help you strive to continue to better yourself until you hit those goals you crave.
4. Shift your mindset
You should always strive for an enthusiastic, engaged, and powerful mindset when it comes to fitness goals. Seeing your workout as a chore will make you resent it, which will make your workouts less productive, which means you won’t see the gains you were hoping to, which will make working out feel more like a chore. You can see the deadly cycle.
Instead, think of your workout as a form of self-care. It’s just you and the road ahead on your run, or just you and that squat rack going toe-to-toe. Let everything else go, and focus on the workout right in front of you. Entering a meditative zone will bring feelings of mental relaxation, shifting your mindset, and making working out a more positive experience.
5. Forgive yourself
Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has those days. If you’re feeling down one day and genuinely just can’t make it to the gym or studio, that’s totally okay. You need to allow yourself to have a full range of human emotions. Plus, if you force yourself to workout even on the odd day when you’re feeling too down to even try, you’ll just end up resenting working out even more.
Having a forgiving but enthusiastic mindset will empower you to hit your goals happily and healthily – so you can truly stick to your routine and get where you want to go.
