Happy 2013! Many of you reading this probably have some sort of fitness goals set for the new year. Whether it be to lose weight or pack on some lean mass having a goal to begin the new year is a good thing. However, in my experience with New Years r...
Happy 2013! Many of you reading this probably have some sort of fitness goals set for the new year. Whether it be to lose weight or pack on some lean mass having a goal to begin the new year is a good thing. However, in my experience with New Years resolutions I have noticed a few downfalls people have which cause them to ruin their resolution to get fit or drop some pounds.
Below are 4 ways to ruin your New Year's Fitness Goals
#1 - Expecting Instant Results
So you are all gung-ho and ready to conquer the fitness world. A week or two go by and you are not 3% body fat, you can't see your abs and your bench has only gone up 5lbs. You think "well this sucks" and fall back into your old habits. Avoid this trap by setting long-term goals along with shorter term ones. This way you will have a sense of accomplishment after a few weeks which will keep you going to reach your ultimate goal.
#2 - Poor Planning
You will not be able to reach your goals if you do not have a plan. If you want to lose weight, you better have a nutrition plan thought out. If you want to get ripped, find a good lifting program. The old saying "failing to plan is planning to fail" applies here more than ever. If you don't know what to eat, follow our recipes - they're all healthy. If you don't have a workout program, try the Smackdown Bench Booster or do one of our fat burner workouts 4-5 times per week.
#3 - Old Habits Die Hard
Habits are difficult to break - especially if they involve food, friends, alcohol and other rituals. If you always get your double-tall french mocha vanilla latte with extra whipped cream or you and the boys go out for drinks and pizza a few times per week your fitness goals are sure to suffer. Be sure to take a hard look at your daily and weekly habits and attempt to identify any that may be detrimental to your fitness goals. Once identified, you will need to change your habits or find alternative ways to make them healthy.
#4 - Impossible Daily Routine
Another common way to fail at your New Years fitness goals is by having unrealistic goals or a new routine that is impossible to keep up. If you think you will wake up at 4:30 every morning to workout (and you don't typically wake up at 4:30) you may be setting yourself up to fail. Sure the first week or two might be awesome, but after a while you'll find yourself hitting the snooze button for some extra shut-eye. Do yourself a favor and choose a workout time that you are sure to hit every day. Schedule a long lunch, workout at your gym immediately after work, or get an in-home workout program like P90X or Insanity. The key is to not throw a complete wrench in your daily routine that will be impossible to maintain.
Having New Years fitness goals are a good thing, but following through is the hard part. Avoid these 4 common pitfalls and you'll be on your way to a great 2013.
