If you’re working toward a fitness goal, the first thing you should know is this: There is no endpoint. Any good personal trainer will tell you that being fit and healthy is a lifelong pursuit, and because it requires daily discipline and effort, it can be easy to fall off the wagon somewhere along the way. That’s especially true when your motivation starts to wane, life obligations get in the way of your routine, and social commitments come calling.

 

At Envision Fitness, we understand here to help you stay the course. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re getting back into the swing of things, check out our tips below on how you can set yourself up for lifelong fitness success.

 

Find Your Why

Here’s the most important thing you can do to set yourself up for lifelong health and fitness success: Figure out what’s really motivating you to change your lifestyle. Go deeper than surface level here — beyond wanting to look great at the beach or wear a smaller size. Dig down deep and find the intrinsic, emotional motivator that made you want to change in the first place.

 

Maybe you want to feel more confident in your everyday life or reduce your risk for developing genetic health problems as you age. Perhaps you want to enjoy running around and playing with your kids more often or be a healthy role model for them as they grow. Whatever that why is, that’s what’ll keep driving you to stay the course even when the going gets tough.

 

Be Realistic With Your Goal Setting

Whether you’re just starting your health and fitness journey or you’re hopping back on the wagon, it’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve in a given timeframe. That’s where setting measurable, attainable, and timed goals can be a huge help. Here’s what that means:

 

●        Measurable. When you set a goal, you should be able to measure your progress toward it. For example, if you want to lose fat and gain muscle, you’ll benefit from periodic body fat testing and taking measurements to track your progress.

 

●        Attainable. If you want to compete in a triathlon but you’ve never done one, setting that as your ultimate goal is great. However, because it’s a major goal, it’s also a good idea to set bite-sized, achievable goals along the way to keep your momentum up. Maybe you’ll set a goal to run a 5k and then a 10k after that. When you achieve those goals, perhaps you’ll set a goal to do a bike race and then a swimming race, etc. Setting these smaller, attainable goals helps you stay on track toward the ultimate goal you’re looking to reach. 

 

●        Timed. When you give your goals a deadline, it creates far more urgency and therefore, a stronger urge to stay on track. Set your goal, no matter how small it is, and then set a realistic and specific deadline for achieving it. Without a deadline, your goal is essentially just a dream. 

 

Not sure you know what’s realistic for your current condition and situation? Working with a personal trainer can be a huge help. Your personal trainer will assess your current fitness level and abilities and help you figure out how to define realistic and achievable goals that you can reach on a practical timeline.

 

Given their extensive training and experience with individuals at all stages of their fitness journeys, personal trainers are an excellent resource for both fitness and nutrition guidance.

 

Start Small

If you’re new to working out or eating healthier, taking an all-or-nothing approach might sound like a good idea, but for most people, it’s a recipe for disappointment. In your head, you might be ready to do a total lifestyle 180 in a day, and that’s awesome! But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and realistically, you probably won’t build rock-solid healthy habits in 24 hours either.  

 

From a purely practical standpoint, it’s best to start by changing small habits first, like eating less fried foods and replacing them with veggies or adding 25 minutes of exercise to your day.

Once you make those changes, take the time to fortify your new habits, and then begin building upon them.

 

Just like a rock-solid castle needs a strong foundation, rock-solid habits need one too. If you’re unsure how much or what type of exercise is appropriate for your current condition, again, working with a personal trainer can be incredibly beneficial. Not only will you get an exercise program that’s tailored to your unique needs, goals, situation, and limitations, but you’ll also get research-backed nutrition coaching from a health and fitness pro.

 

If you want to set yourself up for long-term fitness success, hiring an expert to help you figure out what’s right for your unique body is one of the best things you can do.

 

Ready to Get Individualized Personal Training & Nutrition Coaching Near Hopkins, MN?

If you’re ready to change your life, our team at Envision Fitness is here to help you do it! At our Hopkins, MN gym, we offer individually tailored personal training and nutrition coaching, as well as group exercise classes, weight loss classes, bootcamps, and athletic training services. We’re building a community of like-minded individuals who are always ready to support and encourage one another, and we’d love to have you become a part of it!

 

To learn more about us or get started, feel free to give us a call today at 952-444-2791 or request a free personal consultation online, and we’ll be in touch.