Tips to Make a New Years Resolution and Keep It….

Image courtesy of bqefitnessclub.com

Every January, people flock to the gym to ditch the holiday love handles, only to give up after three weeks.  Let’s face it, working out isn’t fun.  Actually, it sucks. Everything about it sucks, but it’s a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle.  Once you’re in a routine, going to the gym is a piece of cake (no pun intended), but getting started is hard.  Through trial and error, I’ve found several tips to starting a successful exercise routine.

1. Read about the science behind working out.

You wouldn’t take a pill without knowing what it does to your body first, right? You have to determine what kind of exercises will accomplish your goals, and it means doing some digging. Fortunately, there are countless ways to get more information about training.  I’m in the process of reading Weight Training for Dummies because it discusses all aspects of weight lifting without making you feel like a n00b.  I also frequently peruse various exercise articles from bodybuilding.com.  The website is full of tips and tricks to help make exercise information accessible to everyone.

2. Consider a personal trainer.

Reading about exercise on your own can be incredibly overwhelming, and sometimes it’s easier to have someone do the work for you. I understand that not everyone has the option to work with a personal trainer, but the service is there for a reason.  I’m not saying work with a trainer every time you go to the gym, but consider maybe going to one once a month or whatever your budget can handle. Personal trainers will listen to your goals and design a workout regimen that will help you meet them.  They will also motivate you to keep working.

3. Commit to a realistic exercise schedule.

Today, it’s very hard to find time to eat and sleep, let alone go to the gym.  Many people give up on their resolution to exercise because they can’t allot an hour a day to exercise.  Be realistic about how much time you can spend on working out.  For some, an hour a day is easily doable, but for others, a half hour twice a week is a stretch.  Either way, set a goal that’s attainable, and stick to it.

4. Work hard and work smart.

After you design a workout, stick to it.  Don’t workout the same muscle groups everyday because they won’t have time to properly heal, and you won’t get anywhere.  Working hard is all about pushing yourself to complete that last rep, but working smart means not pushing yourself and causing an injury.  Going the extra mile (literally and figuratively) is a very important part of physical fitness, but it’s best to stay within your body’s limits.

5. Start small.

Tony Horton, creator of P90X said, “Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was your body.”  Start out with a workout that challenges you.  Whether that means doing three or three hundred exercises, listen to your body and add to your workouts as you see fit.  Once you get the hang of basic exercises, try variations. For example, I started out working my biceps with a machine because it was significantly easier than using dumbbells.  I started with a machine and switched over as I got stronger.

6. Have faith.

Many people get discouraged after several weeks of working hard without seeing results.  It may take a month or two to see weight loss or muscle gain, but you have to have faith that all your hard work will pay off.  There’s nothing more satisfying than completing a 5k for the first time or pumping a heavier weight, but you have to work up to that point.