Trying to Stay Motivated in my Fitness Goals…HELP!

​Each and every January, millions of people set various fitness goals.
According to the U.S News & World report in 2018,
80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. Most of those resolutions probably had
some fitness goal attached to it.

I applaud the effort of us wanting to be better each year, but the question is,
what actionable steps and
planning need to be put in place to stay motivated?
Let’s talk.

​1st and foremost, keeping your “why“ top of mind is key. Your “why” is the reason you desire to work
out. The same way we all want to know our “why” or purpose in other aspects of our life, is the same
mindset we need to keep to help us stick with our fitness goals.

Examples:
- I work out to keep up with my kids.
- I work out to combat the health conditions my family generally has.
- I workout to look good naked!
- I workout to feel good, physically and mentally.

Take a moment to think and write it down. (Better Memory Retention)

Do you have your fitness “why” in your head? Ok, keep that top of mind and let’s move on.
The best way to stay motivated in fitness is all about starting off with a good foundation. We do that
with creating S.M.A.R.T. goals.

S - SPECIFIC.
M - MEASURABLE.
A - ACHIEVABLE.
R - REALISTIC.
T - TIME SPECIFIC.

Examples:
1 – I will replace 30 minutes of screen time (e.g. TV, social networking, gaming, watching videos) with 30
minutes of physical activity 2 times this week.
2 - I will walk briskly for 10 minutes every day this week.
3 - I will be physically active for 20 minutes 3 times this week (e.g. brisk walking, jogging, bike riding,
dancing, swimming).


Make your goals realistic to your lifestyle and what will work best for you. And remember, nothing is set
in stone. If working out 3 times a week instead of 5 is more realistic to your schedule, don’t be afraid to
adjust.

Making adjustments in my schedule is something I'm having to deal with right now.
I love working out in the morning. However, with my mornings being busier AND it being darker longer in the a.m., I can't run as early as I'd like. So, I'm having to adjust my workout schedule and make time during the afternoon or night.
It's not my favorite, but I'm making the adjustment. 

Last but certainly not least, let’s talk accountability!!!

Find an efficient way to hold yourself accountable. A great example of accountability is finding an
accountability partner. Someone who will check on you on a regular basis to make sure you’re staying
on path. If you do better with self-accountability, find a fitness tracker to keep up with your progress or
a habit tracker that allows you to mark off something each day, giving you that sensation of
accomplishment!!


With all that being said, remember to be kind to yourself through your fitness process and don’t forget
to congratulate yourself for the small wins. (I didn’t eat that donut at work today!)
Have fun with it and remember your why.

​Xoxo,
ABnormally AB

​Photos by: Saige Seadae