As many people had to put some plans aside because of the pandemic (and the quarantine), it is worth rethinking now which habits we want to adopt in 2021. So, if in your new year goals If you want to include more movement (and health!) in your routine, here are some tips to make it easier:
6 Tips for Achieving Your New Year’s Fitness Goals
1. Review your goals when necessary
Often, we set a plan in mind and insist on carrying it out without realizing that the journey matters much more than the destination. If the process of pursuing a goal is making you unhappy, think again. Want to define your muscles, but find the workouts bodybuilding a torture? Talk to your personal trainer to find another alternative. Believe me: getting there will be much less heavy.
2. Know that you are much more than a number on the scale
No obsessing over your weight — the most important thing is to be aware of the healthy habits you put into practice. “The pointer of the scale is not the most reliable indication that you are improving or regressing in training and diet”, observes Wilson Pereira, personal trainer and bodybuilding teacher at Bodytech Eldorado, in Sao Paulo. If you’re exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet, you’ll likely gain muscle and lose fat — which doesn’t always mean your body weight will drop dramatically.
3. Don’t blame yourself for always wanting more
There will always be issues to be completed. And that’s okay. Instead of getting frustrated over it, view responsibilities as an opportunity to keep learning. The secret is to reflect on each task and try to do it better each day. This applies even to the physical activitywhich must be taken as a process of constant evolution.
4. Appreciate the gift
Sessions are usually accompanied by high expectations (weight loss, defined body, more breath…), but try to see the workout time in a different way. “Exercise can work as a way to unload the stress and also increase the disposition and motivation to face the routine”, highlights Wilson. So, don’t just live in the future: focus also on the immediate benefits that your activities bring.
5. You are not what others think of you
Let go of other people’s opinion (even if it’s someone you love) and try to understand that you shouldn’t exercise for aesthetic pressure. Excluding unnecessary nerves is essential to focus energies on what really matters: your health.
6. Go slow
2020 was an unusual year. Everyone moved less than they were used to. So, when you go back to activities, remember not to go to the pot too thirsty and listen to your body. Progress must happen gradually, in order to avoid exaggerationsinjuries and accidents.