8 Ways to Stick to Your New Year’s Fitness Resolutions

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Fit4Less. The opinions and text are all mine.

It’s February, and it is usually around this time that about half of all the people who made a New Year’s resolution to improve their physical fitness begin to waver in their commitment. I get it, believe me, life happens, but it’s not too late to get back on the fitness wagon. Here are 8 ways to make sure 2018 is the year you stick to your fitness resolutions.

8 Ways to Stick to Your New Year’s Fitness Resolutions

1. Schedule it.

I don’t know about you, but if something is in my planner or my phone I’m a lot more likely to do it. So if I put “hit the gym” every Monday at 2pm, I’m way more likely to actually make it to the gym than if I tell myself “I should really make it to the gym on Monday”. I often have great intentions but like many people, I tend to get busy and forget. A simple reminder on my phone can have a powerful impact and increase the probability that I’ll actually go. The busier you are, the more you need to go to the gym to help decompress, but the harder it can be to get there – unless you put it in your schedule.

Related: The Best Planners To Buy to Organize Your Life

2. Be Specific.

Don’t just say “I want to lose 10 pounds”, say “I want to lose 10 pounds by going to the gym 3 times a week and making better food choices on non-gym days”. When you include an action plan for how you’re going to implement changes, it becomes easier to follow a plan. If you want to take this a step further, you can be even more specific by saying exactly what sort of workout you’re going to do at the gym.

3. Find a gym you love that won’t break the bank.

Finding a gym can be hard with there being so many different options out there Fit4Less memberships start at just $4.99 every two weeks  (with a $44 joining fee & tax ) for a single location basic membership and $10.99 every two weeks  for the Black Card membership that gives you access to all of the locations across the country. Both memberships include Virtual Fitness & Virtual Cycling (where available) and the 30Minute Express Circuit.  One of the great things about the Black Card membership is that it lets you share your membership with family and friends when you are not using it, and gives you access to things such as massage chairs and tanning (where available). Fit4Less gyms are clean, have friendly staff, and can help you find a workout you love that you will look forward to doing. Learn more about membership or find your closest location here.

4. Break it Down.

Focusing on your long term goal too much can sometimes make you lose focus. Saying you’re going to lose 30 pounds or do 1000 push ups by December can be really intimidating. The key to staying focused on your longterm goal, is to  break this down into smaller attainable milestones. Suddenly losing that 30 pounds doesn’t seem as intimidating if you frame it as losing 7.5 pounds by the end of the month, or achieving that push up goal by just completing 3 a day. It is important that you have your long term goal in mind, but help yourself in achieving this by breaking this down into more attainable milestones.

5. Be Realistic.

It’s easy to get excited and boldly declare that you’re going to be at the gym every day, but this change to your daily life is not going to happen overnight. If you expect amazing results immediately and don’t get them, you will get discouraged and probably quit. It is important to be realistic about your expectations, as it’s a lot easier to see your fitness journey as just that – a journey as opposed to the final destination.

6. Take a Buddy.

Working out is way more fun when you have a friend with you. When there’s someone waiting for you at the gym it becomes much harder to justify canceling a workout. Plus you can encourage each other when motivation just isn’t there.  If you’re competitive like me, challenge your workout buddy to see who can do more squats.Anyway you want to use this is up to you but,  having a friend at the gym helps keep you motivated to work out.

7. Get some cool gear.

Any excuse to shop right? Did you know that you can actually do yoga in yoga pants? They’re not just for sitting around the house in (or so I’ve heard anyway). When you get cool work out gear you want to put on, whether it’s a really pretty top that makes you feel strong or a cool piece of tech like a heart rate monitor, you will find yourself looking forward to the gym. Getting a second piece of cool gear can also be a nice little reward for making a goal too.

8. Forgive yourself.

Even if you follow all of these tips, you’re probably going to miss some gym time. Life happens and whether your kids are sick or there are some crazy deadlines at work, sometimes you just can’t make it to the gym. Don’t let a little slip-up stop your fitness journey, just go back when you can.

Whatever your reasons for making a New Year’s fitness resolution, if you follow these tips, you’ll still be working hard and crushing your goals while others have given up and are back on the couch. Come next December you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you can stick to your resolutions (and have a stronger and healthier body too).

 Also, don’t forget to make it fun! Subscribe to subscription box, but what one? Well, here are my favorite health and fitness subscription boxes.