How to achieve your fitness goals?

Finally stick to that yearly ‘I will get in better shape’ resolution.  These motivational tips will help you to achieve your fitness goals and maybe even enjoy exercise!  

Make these small mental switches and you’ll find it much easier to maintain your fitness motivation!

Do you start the year off full of good intentions for achieving fitness goals, such as to lose weight and get fit, only to find yourself back on the sofa in your comfies come February?

Us too. But with the help of a few motivational tricks, you’ll start to see exercising as something to look forward to and set some good fitness goals – yes really!

Here's seven tips to keep motivated in achieving your fitness goals:

1. Enjoy exercise and treat it as ‘me time’

When you’re exercising, there are no kids saying “Muuuuum”, no partner asking you what’s for dinner, and no boss asking you where that report is.
It’s just you. Enjoy it!

After your workout, treat yourself to some time in the sauna or go for a fruit smoothie with someone from your class to keep motivated.  Otherwise why not have some extra time to yourself – that might be a phone call with a friend, or upgrading your post-workout shower with your favourite sweet-smelling shower gel, shampoo and conditioner so it feels like a little quiet-time treat. Also make sure you slip a Venus Snap razor with portable case in your gym bag so you can treat yourself to silky smooth legs too.

2. Set good fitness goals

If you want to lose weight, have a goal in mind and break it down into monthly targets. For example, if you want to lose two stone, that can feel like a lot. But if you break it down into manageable chunks, say 5lb a month, it will feel a lot more achievable.

And don’t forget to make a plan for after you’ve lost the weight. It’s tempting to feel like you’ve ‘done it’ once you’ve reached your goal, but it’s important to maintain an active lifestyle afterwards too in order to maintain your healthy weight.

Remember when thinking about goals to set for yourself, focus on feeling better rather than setting rigid goals for weight loss. Your weight can fluctuate depending on the time of day or time of the month, so start ignoring the scales and go for what makes you feel good. Instead of setting a goal weight, make feeling good in your favourite jeans your workout goal.

3. Enjoy exercise - don’t just focus on the outside

While it’s likely that you want to get slimmer or more toned (who doesn’t?), your main goal should simply be to get fitter and healthier.  Find what will help you to enjoy exercise!

You’re likely to reach moments when you feel frustrated because the hard work you’re putting in seems to have few physical results, but it takes patience and perseverance to see a real change on the outside – and you will get there.

In the meantime, focus on how much good the exercise and healthy eating is doing for your vital organs, brain and wellbeing. Exercise releases feel-good endorphins too, so you’ll generally feel happier, have more energy and will feel better about yourself. In turn, these positive feelings will help you to keep motivated too and show just how to achieve good fitness goals.

4. Try something new to keep motivated

It’s important that you enjoy exercise, otherwise it will feel like a chore. Even if you’re happy with your current routine, don’t stop trying new things. There are so many online tutorials out there, from aerobics to Zumba, so you could try something different each time! Try a different class at the gym each week and see what fits; think of what sports you enjoyed playing when you were younger and join a local club; go for a run and focus on how it helps you clear your mind; hit the weights at the gym and take your stress out on the equipment.  Shake up your exercise routine to keep motivated to achieve fitness goals!

Keep it varied so you don’t get bored. For example, Zumba class Monday, netball Wednesday and a run in the park on Saturday morning.

5. Find an exercise buddy

It’s so much harder to motivate yourself to exercise if you have to go it alone. If you can exercise with friend or family member, you’ll pep each other up when you’re not in the mood and won’t want to let each other down by bailing. Your buddy could be an online tutor, who makes sure you turn up to class, or you could FaceTime a friend while you’re both lifting weights to motivate each other!  Of course having an exercise buddy means it is an opportunity for a good gossip – but don’t forget about doing your work out while you’re at it! Why not make a list of fitness goals for your friends workout for you both to do.  It’s all about finding exercise you enjoy.

6. Buy some fancy fitness gear

You’re not going to feel very inspired to exercise if all you have is an oversized old T-shirt, some black-turned-grey leggings and a pair of battered old trainers.

Treat yourself to some gear that’s colourful, breathable and comfortable. You can buy some decent budget leggings and tops, but you should invest in a good pair of trainers. Buy ones suited to your exercise of choice (i.e running trainers, or ones with flatter soles for stability when doing weights) – and don’t forget to buy a decent sports bra!

If you can stretch to it, have three outfits you can wear on rotation and throw them all in the wash on your rest day. 

7. Listen to your body while doing workout

We are all unique and what works for one person may not work for another.
While your friend may have achieved the body of her dreams by hitting the treadmill every day, your body may shape up more quickly doing resistance training.

As you experiment with what you enjoy doing, also pay attention to how it makes your body feel and how it responds. If you learn what works for you and your body, you’ll see results more quickly – and enjoy the exercise more too.

What are your fitness goals? Do you have any tips for how to achieve fitness goals and keeping yourself motivated to exercise?