When it comes to fitness, many people view getting healthier, stronger, and lighter as more of a destination than a lifelong journey. But if you’re serious about fitness and living a healthy lifestyle, that lifestyle doesn’t stop just because the scale reads a certain number or you hit a long-awaited PR.
When you truly want to become the healthiest version of yourself, your fitness journey will last a lifetime. Curious what you can do to make your decades-long endeavor as enjoyable and fulfilling as possible? The personal trainers at Envision Fitness share valuable tips below.
Make a Commitment to Yourself
Are you truly ready to create positive change in your life? Then you must make a commitment to yourself to transform your lifestyle and stick with the process. Often, people who are just beginning their fitness journey hire a personal trainer because they think that if someone else makes them work, they’ll inevitably see results. That’s not typically the case.
In the end, your results are up to you and you alone. Your personal trainer can design a custom training plan and nutrition guidelines that meet your unique needs, but it’s up to you to commit to doing the work.
Figure Out Your Why
One of the most important things you can do if you’re just beginning your fitness journey is to figure out your true “why.” Your why is the reason behind your desire to get healthier and fitter, and usually, it has little to do with superficial appearance goals.
Unfortunately, though, a lot of people who are just starting out think a smaller clothing size or a beach-ready body are good motivators. And while those are certainly valid reasons for wanting to get fit, chances are you have a much deeper reason for wanting to change your life.
What would a smaller clothing size do for your confidence? How would being strong and fit make you feel? Dig deep when determining your why because it’s what will keep you going when the going gets tough.
Set S.M.A.R.T Goals
Having lofty fitness goals is awesome! But it’s important to understand that reaching those goals can take time (and lots of it). One of the best ways to ensure you achieve your ultimate fitness goals is to set smaller goals that you can tackle along the way. That’s why setting S.M.A.R.T goals continually throughout your fitness journey is so important for both your long-term success and enjoyment. No matter which leg of the journey you’re on, set goals that are:
● Specific. Write down exactly what you want to accomplish.
● Measurable. Whether you want to hit a lifting PR, run a faster mile, or lose a certain amount of weight, measure your progress toward your ultimate goal using smaller mini-goals throughout your journey.
● Achievable. Make your goal reasonable. If you’d love to run a five-minute mile or deadlift 700 pounds, assess where you’re currently at on your journey. Be realistic with yourself about what you can achieve with the time and resources you have.
● Realistic. Set goals that are relevant to your life. That might mean something as simple as being able to run around with your kids without losing your breath. Your goals are yours and yours alone and they’re just as valid and important as anyone else’s — don’t get stuck in the comparison trap!
● Timely. Give yourself time to achieve your goals, but set a deadline to keep your progress on track.
Not sure how to go about setting and achieving S.M.A.R.T goals? Working with a personal trainer can help tremendously! At Envision Fitness, we understand everyone’s fitness journey is unique and your goals are important no matter what they are.
Whether you need help creating a workout routine that meets your needs or nutrition guidance to help you properly fuel your hard-working body, we’re here to help.
Understand Mistakes Happen
Even the best-laid fitness plan created with the best intentions can run into a snag every now and then. Mistakes happen, but it’s how you respond to those mistakes that determines your long-term success. If you mess up your nutrition or miss a workout, don’t get frustrated with yourself and throw in the towel. Nobody’s perfect.
When you make a mistake, reconcile it with yourself, figure out what went wrong, and get back on track. Don’t punish yourself for messing up by restricting your food intake or adding extra exercise to your routine. When you’re committed to your long-term fitness journey, mistakes here and there are just bumps in a very long and winding road. Keep going!
Ready to Change Your Life? Envision Fitness Can Help
At Envision Fitness, our goal is to do far more than get you fit; we aim to change the trajectory of your life. Our dedicated personal trainers are here for you through every step of your fitness journey and our tight-knit community is always ready to offer you the support and encouragement you need to reach your goals.
Ready to discover how our personalized training, nutrition coaching, and fitness classes can help you change your life? Schedule a free consultation today or call our Hopkins, MN location at 952-444-2791 to learn more.