Garret Caillouet, Director of Curriculum at Barry’s UAE shares his tips.
Year after year, we keep asking ourselves, why do we have trouble keeping up with our New Year Resolutions? Every year we seem to say the same thing, “New year, new me.” We come up with exciting new goals for ourselves and can’t wait to make changes to make our lives better. We want to accomplish more than ever before and change unhealthy habits, but the question still remains, why can’t we stick to these changes? It can be especially hard when it comes to our health and fitness goals.
There are two likely scenarios. The first is that we tend to set goals that are long-term focused and need a significant amount of time. The second is basically the complete opposite. We set goals that are too easy and we get bored of them quickly.
For example, one of your goals could be to try a high intensity workout like Barry’s. Ahead of the class, you have already set the expectation in your head that you’re going to lift heavy weights and run the fastest on the treadmill. Before even trying the class, we know that this is an unrealistic goal.
A more realistic idea of what you might accomplish during your first class could be to complete it. After completing the first class, we can then set ourselves a target to slowly progress and improve over time. We could achieve this by grabbing heavier weights and building up our speed on the treadmill, one class at a time.
Another tool that can help us sustain and achieve our New Year Resolutions is to find someone who is on the same path as you – an “Accountability Buddy.” Find that person who is just as, if not more, motivated to make a change in their life, and who might be able to give you that extra boost of motivation, especially on the days when you don’t want to get out of bed. Many of us are social creatures, so when we are in it together, we will push each other and ourselves just a little bit harder.
The type of goals you set for yourself also have a major impact on the likelihood of their success. I have seen goals fail or fade away time and time again, amongst friends and clients who set goals for themselves based on weight-loss or aesthetics instead of health, wellness, and overall physical capabilities.
I can say that clients who set goals that are focused on weight loss instead of physical achievements, are less likely to achieve their goals. We allow the number on the scale to influence our self-worth or how “successful” we have in the gym. A couple of important reminders that not everyone knows; muscle weighs more than fat, and the more lean muscle you have on your body, the better your body’s ability to burn fat.
Create goals that are focused on how strong you feel, how much more active you are, and how good your body feels. It can be challenging to focus on the long-term effects of these new changes when your body is sore and going through changes, but it is worth it in the end. Some days will be harder than others, but it’s okay to have setbacks. Remember: be kind to yourself and progress isn’t linear.
GO: Visit www.barrys.com for more information.
