New Year, New List, New You
It's almost that time of year, for "New Year, New Me" posts to sweep across timelines over all the social media platforms.
Quite often these are in relation to health & fitness goals, and this is great!
The general puff of the cheeks & roll of the eyes comes from the assumption that most people fall back into old habits pretty quickly.
How can you make sure you're not one of these people?
We've got a January Checklist to help you get the foundations in place to ensure that fresh 2020 motivation doesn't go to waste.
1. A GOAL
Seems obvious right? We've all got an "ultimate goal" when it comes to health & fitness, but is it specific enough?
Wanting to "lose weight" or "tone up" is great, but do you know how much you want to lose? Is it inches of your waist, or weight on the scales? Is it to drop a dress size or a belt buckle?
Once you've got this specific number, write it down somewhere you'll see it. If you're brave enough, tell someone. We're more likely to follow through towards a goal when it's no longer just a thought in our heads.
Why not set a short term goal just for January? Wanting to drop 2 dress sizes for the summer is a great goal to have, but setting a smaller goal of losing centimetres of the waist to begin with by February can help sustain your mission!
2.A REASON
You know what you want to do, but have you thought about why?
What's your reason for wanting to drop body fat, tone up or get stronger?
Is it as simple as wanting to look & feel your best for a wedding, special birthday or summer holiday on the horizon? Does it go a bit deeper than that? Are there much more personal reasons that fuel this pursuit towards your goal?
It's not something you need to plaster over social media, it's fine to keep it to yourself. As long as you know it.
This is going to help keep you striving forward and stay on track whenever progress appears slow or temptations arise.
3. STRUCTURE
Otherwise known as a plan. Do you have one?
Whether it's training or nutrition, some form of plan is essential.
Most plans in January that I've come across (and attempted in the past!) usually involve attempting 6 days a week at the gym, early morning runs 2-3 times a week & stocking up on tupperware for chicken, rice & broccoli.
Depending on what your routine was beforehand, these measures are often way too extreme & inevitably result in old habits creeping back in sooner rather than later.
With all our clients & members at M3 Perform, we put a huge emphasis on a plan being sustainable.
We strive for plans that can gain maximal results through minimal disruption to daily routines.
4. SUPPORT
Quite often an overlooked aspect when we attempt any sort of health & fitness related change.
Do you have it? At home, with friends, at work or at the gym itself, having the support of the people around you can be the make or break.
Are you involved with people who support what you're doing and can empathise with your reasons?
It can make all the difference especially when things get tough & self doubt creeps in.
We pride ourselves at M3 Perform on our Community. People safe in the knowledge that whatever their situation in life outside, they are surrounded by like minded people who get what they're doing, why they're doing it and are always there to support.
5. ACCOUNTABILITY
This is a big one.
This ties into all of the above in one way or another.
However it is an area that is so often undervalued.
It's one of the reasons people hire coaches or join fitness groups. Being accountable to someone else (or a group) is the thing that can more often than not stop you reaching for the Dominoes Pizza App for a quick dinner when you've been working until 8pm, and can help motivate you to take the time to throw together something a lot more nutritious.
With accountability comes deadlines too. Set dates where shorter-term goals & targets are measured which ensures you'll very rarely stray from the plan.
A Goal In Place ✅
A Plan In Place ✅
Plenty Of Support ✅
A Solid Reason ✅
There you have it. Your January Checklist to make certain that your fat loss & health goals don't fall at the first hurdle in 2020, and come February onwards, you're still on track.