MINDSET
A lot of people make fitness related resolutions for the New Year, often based around weight loss. Many see progress and stop. Others fail. HOWEVER, a good number succeed and success is certainly more than ACHIEVABLE, with the correct mindset.
This New Year blog series is designed to give you a few pointers as to how you can be successful with your weight loss aims. We begin this week with a look at getting in to the correct frame of mind – but keep an eye out for our following blogs based around diet, workouts and recovery.
It’s a sad truth that many resolutions are abandoned before the year is even half over. So, how do we prevent this from happening? How do we make sure that you stay on your fitness goals and become strong and confident? Alongside our personal training and our fresh ideas – here’s how you can mentally prepare yourself:
Be Realistic
This might be the most important rule. The first reason that people fall off the wagon is because they make goals that are actually too big. That may seem strange to say, but it’s the truth. When you make a huge goal for yourself such as: ‘I will work out for one hour, six days a week,’ you’re setting yourself up for failure in the mid-long term.
This sounds harsh, but you can’t just jump in 0 to 60. You need to ease yourself in to the fitness circuit. We offer fitness classes and boot camps of various lengths and disciplines for this reason. If you attend a couple a week or a class and a maintainable amount of time in the gym then you’ll reach your fitness goal with much more ease and enjoyment. But you have to ease yourself in, and eventually you may even surpass your original goal!
Make a Plan
So, now you’ve got your very realistic fitness goal, it’s time to make a plan. When you make yourself a set plan that helps you towards your resolution you set yourself up for success.
Set small goals. If your big and ultimate goal is something such as wanting to lose 3 or 4 stone then you need to know how you’ll get there. Make yourself a smaller goal initially… something along the lines of attending a cycle class and working out twice a week. If you start yourself small you can work up to the bigger things you’re aiming for. Another great idea is to make a schedule – sort a routine and stick to the structure you give yourself. This all feeds in to a positive psychological approach to your fitness goals.
Support
Friends and family can be great motivators for keeping resolutions. When you keep your goals to yourself, you have less risk involved because you’re the only one holding yourself accountable. The minute you have another person involved they can become a great supporter of everything you’re working for.
Maybe even ask someone to join you as a way of helping you stay motivated. You may even discover that someone in your life has similar goals as you! This can be a huge help as the two of you keep each other accountable throughout the year.
And, of course, 180 Degrees trainers are always there to provide you with fresh exercises, new ideas, nutritional advice and to show belief in you. Our personal training team is full of sporting champions (on a local to international scale) and they are an elite team in terms of guiding individuals of any level, through their paths to success. The results speak for themselves. Click below to register for a trail PT session and consultation.
Reward Yourself
It is so important to celebrate the small victories. When you reach one of those small goals you set for yourself a reward is definitely in order. Sure, the end reward of a great body that you feel good in is a fantastic one to look forward to, but it’s nice to motivate yourself with a bit of incentive in the middle.
Maybe buy yourself a new dress to celebrate losing those five pounds. Or let yourself have a spa day when you’ve consistently worked out four days a week for a month straight. Whatever it is, set yourself a reward to work towards each step of the way. You start making psychological associations with hard work and reward. It’s astonishing how positive an impact this can have.
Don’t Lose Sight
Be realistic, take small steps, and keep your eye on the prize.
See you next week when we have some insight in to your diet and how you can enjoy taste, prevent hunger, enjoy eating – yet still promote weight loss! All practical advice will be revealed!
Click below to book in for your goal setting consultation and trial PT session.
