Fitness Tips for Your New Year's Resolutions

New Year Fitness Resolutions: Tips for Success

When the new year comes around, many of us find ourselves making new year fitness resolutions, especially related to our health and fitness. For anyone looking to improve their health and fitness in the new year, setting and sticking to these resolutions can be both exciting and challenging. Achieving your fitness goals can lead to better health, increased energy, and improved well-being. However, maintaining motivation and consistency is often the hardest part. Below, we share practical tips and strategies to help you stay on track and make your new year fitness resolutions a lasting success.

Most Effective Strategies for Sticking to New Year Fitness Resolutions

• Create daily habits: Building small, consistent habits is essential for sticking to fitness resolutions and making progress over time.
• Write down your goals and keep them visible: Placing your written goals where you can see them daily helps keep them top of mind and reinforces your commitment.
• Start small with manageable goals: Setting achievable, bite-sized goals prevents feelings of overwhelm and burnout, making it easier to stay motivated.
• Find an accountability partner: Sharing your journey with someone else can significantly enhance your commitment and help you stay on track.
• Celebrate small wins: Recognizing and celebrating your progress along the way helps maintain motivation throughout your fitness journey.

Set a SMART Goal

Determining what you want to accomplish in the new year is the first step to completing your fitness goal. Instead of planning to simply ‘run more often' or ‘be healthier,' set a specific and measurable goal to keep you motivated and on track throughout the year. A SMART goal (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely) is a great tactic to use when creating your action plan. A SMART goal is one that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. If, for example, you're looking to lose weight, a SMART goal could be ‘I want to lose ten pounds in two months.' Not only is the goal clearly identified with a set deadline, it's also realistic and attainable to ensure you don't get discouraged. The next step is to write down your goal and place it where you can see it. This helps keep your goal top of mind.

Track Progress and Stay Motivated

Tracking Progress
Tracking your progress along your fitness journey has many benefits. Not only does it help you notice results and keep you motivated, but it also allows you to see where changes can be made in your routine. Keep a fitness journal to document your workouts and food choices, as well as your weight. If you prefer to keep track of your progress digitally, consider downloading nutrition and workout apps such as:

• MyFitnessPal (nutrition app)
• Noom (nutrition app)
• Nike Training Club (workout app)
• Sworkit (workout app)

Staying Motivated
Staying motivated throughout your fitness journey is key to turning your new year fitness resolutions into lasting habits. One effective way to maintain motivation is to focus on small daily habits that contribute to your overall goals, rather than getting overwhelmed by the big picture. Celebrate each small victory, whether it’s completing a workout or choosing a healthy meal, as these moments build momentum and reinforce your commitment. In  no time at all you will be surpassing your goals and noticing your accomplishments along the way. 

Sharing Goals

Sharing your fitness goals with family and friends can help keep you accountable and act as a strong motivational tool. There is also a high chance that someone else has a similar goal as you, immediately granting you a new workout partner. In fact, exercising with others can take your workout to a new level, giving you more energy, sparking camaraderie and making it a lot more enjoyable. Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club offers group fitness classes such as pilates, yoga and tabata to help change up your workout routine and give you a motivational boost.

Reward Yourself for Your Hard Work

Built-in Rewards
It's important to reward yourself along your journey with a dose of positive reinforcement. While creating your fitness plan, schedule built-in rewards, such as a weekend getaway or spa day, to help keep you moving forward and excited about your fitness. 

Daily Treats
If you're having trouble staying motivated before reaching your first built-in reward, consider adding a small post-workout treat into your daily routine. It can be as simple as a piece of chocolate, going out to dinner or buying new a set of workout clothes. The positive reinforcements will go a long way in helping you stay on track!

At Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, members can utilize our full-service gym to conquer their New Year's goals. For more fitness tips, contact our certified fitness professionals Zach Gulley at zach@teamupaz.com or Drew Saenz at drew@teamupaz.com.