Let’s get in front of those physical fitness New Year’s resolutions, shall we?
People who make resolutions in January have only a 20% chance of keeping them, which isn’t surprising given that it can take two to eight months to form a new habit. Habits resist being changed. This can lead to inconsistency and failure. When that happens the inner critic chips away at your self-confidence. So don’t go there.
Instead, let’s look at “getting in better shape” as a long-term goal, worthy of being pursued from January 2020 to December 2020. Then it’s not a resolution to be kept or broken but a path to be followed. In that spirit, we offer you this month-by-month guide to improved physical fitness for 2020.
Month By Month Physical Fitness
January. Get off to a good start this month by measuring your current level of physical fitness and setting some goals for where you’d like to be by the end of the year. Schedule one of our free assessments. We’ll help you develop the plan. It’s a good idea to set a goal for the number of days you will exercise each week. We recommend taking a 4-week small group training class. It gives you the benefits of personalized training without the cost of a private personal trainer.
February. Cardio is the foundation upon which you will build the rest of your physical health. If you haven’t exercised regularly in awhile, start start to gradually increase your cardiovascular activity. If you keep the frequency commitment that you made to yourself and are gradually increasing your aerobic capacity, you can put February in the win column.
March. After spending two months focusing on your individual performance, it’s time to add a little community to your exercise routine. Exercise is better with friends. Take a look at our schedule of classes and pick one to attend once a week. We have classes at convenient times for all fitness levels.
April. If you haven’t been doing weight training already, consider starting now. Your goal doesn’t have to be a ripped physique although it can be if that’s what you want. Your goal is to get stronger. A strong body helps to prevent injury and makes an active lifestyle so much easier.
May. At the end of May we hold our annual “Honor Our Heroes” event on Memorial Day weekend. Join us and bring your friends. You can have fun with fitness and support a good cause at the same time.
June. The end of June marks the halfway point of the year which means that it’s time for a mid-year check up. Where are you in relation to the goals you set at the beginning of the year? Do you need to recommit to those goals or are you ready for more strenuous work? Perhaps you can choose a competition to enter later in the year — a 5K walk, a 10K run, or even a half marathon. Working toward an event is very motivating. Make an appointment to talk with us about it.
July. Depending on the progress you made during the first half of the year, your fitness routine may be to keep on just as you have been doing. However, if you are wanting to start working on specific areas of your body, your abs are a good place to start. They are part of the core muscles that support every physical activity you do. Add plank exercises and a V-sit for results you will notice. You don’t need to spend hours — 15 to 20 minutes of targeted work will do the trick.
August. Since you’ve added some core muscle training to your routine, you can now focus on another muscle group. How about glutes? You definitely don’t have to train them alone! Check out our Booty Camp Class to find out the best exercises to get your desired results..
September. If you’ve selected a competition for the fall, now is the time to level up on your cardio. One of the best ways to prepare for a competition is interval training. You can read more about interval training on our blog. If it’s the first time you’ve given it a try, let us work with you to find the best plan for your goals.
October. While functional training is good for all fitness levels, you will especially enjoy it once you’ve been active on a regular basis for awhile. Try our free Sunday Queenax sessions to get a taste of functional training. It’s a great way to wrap up the weekend and prepare for the coming week.
November. We know that good nutrition has been a part of your fitness routine all year, but it’s easy to feel like you’ve “earned” a break when the holidays come around. This is the month to focus on maintaining your good eating habits. If you need inspiration, browse some of the nutrition articles on our blog.
December. Congratulate yourself for your consistency and strong will throughout 2020. Finish strong and perhaps consider starting CrossFit in 2021.
At Resilient Fitness we want to see you persevere, succeed, and achieve your potential. We will be with you each step of the way. With our state of the art gym and variety of classes, you won’t be alone and you won’t be bored.