The new year brings a clean slate and a fresh start. Whether you accomplished all of your fitness goals in 2021 or you’re hoping to make this the year you finally prioritize your health, you have the power to drastically change your fitness trajectory in 2022. Yes, I’m talking about New Year’s fitness resolutions. But not your typical ones. Rather than focusing solely on weight loss or trying to make it to the gym five times a week, there are unique fitness resolutions that prioritize your overall health while still moving you closer to the results you want.
How to Set Fitness Resolutions You’ll Keep
There are a few reasons someone might not stick to their New Year’s fitness goal. Sometimes it’s a lack of motivation; once the excitement of the first of the year passes, reality sets in, and it’s back to “real life.” Other times it’s due to unrealistic expectations; committing to losing hundreds of pounds or spending hours in the gym every day isn’t realistic for most people with a demanding job or family to care for. How can you overcome these obstacles and stick to your fitness resolutions all year long? By choosing realistic goals that not only prioritize your health but are actually fun, engaging, and exciting, even after January is long gone.
What are Realistic Fitness Goals?
Have you heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals? S.M.A.R.T. goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. To me, a “Realistic” goal is not only one you can accomplish but one that you actually want to accomplish.
If you’re honest with yourself, can you really say you want to go to the gym five days a week? Or, let me put it this way… if I told you that you don’t have to go to the gym to lose weight, build muscle, or get healthy, would you still choose to go? If the answer is no, then 5-a-week gym days aren’t a realistic goal for you, and that’s ok! Instead, you may find that working out from home three days a week is enjoyable and practical. (P.S. If working out from home sounds incredible, but you’re not sure where to start, check out this blog post, and then learn more about the #ALFitCrew App!)
How Do You Create a Fitness Resolution?
To choose a unique fitness resolution rather than setting the same goal you do every year, think about your health overall–not just your weight, as many of us tend to fixate on. Consider what you already enjoy doing–do you love evening walks? Have you been dying to cross some adventures off your bucket list? Do you enjoy cooking and want to discover new meals that can aid your fitness journey? Ask others to commit to the same fitness resolution as you, so you have an accountability partner (everything is more fun with friends, which is why I love working out with the #ALFitCrew).
5 Unique Fitness Resolutions to Commit to This Year
The one thing about New Year’s resolutions is that most people tend to tie their fitness goals directly to a number on a scale. While a scale is definitely one health metric, it is definitely not the only or the most important. Instead, I encourage you to view your health holistically this year. Think about the things in your life that contribute to your fitness journey, such as sleep, eating well, getting enough sunlight, laughing! Then choose a fitness resolution or two to prioritize your physical and mental health. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some unique fitness resolutions you can try this year!
1. Create a Fitness Bucket List
Choose twelve activities you’ve never tried before (or want to try again), like hiking, yoga, or boxing–one for each month of the year. That way, you have a new fitness activity to do every month, for a month. Go on a hike every weekend for one month. Take 10 yoga classes the next. Who knows, you may even find your new favorite fitness activity that you want to do the rest of the year! This is great for those who get bored quickly and find lifting weights at the gym or running on a treadmill to be a snooze-fest. A fitness bucket list is an excellent way to keep things exciting while still prioritizing movement.
2. Give Up One Food Item Every 30 Days
Do you want to prioritize eating healthy in the new year but can’t imagine giving up all of your favorite foods? Then don’t! Simply give up one food item every 30 days. Rather than trying to go cold turkey and cutting yourself off from all sweets or junk food, take it month by month. By the end of the year, you’ll have cut out 12 not-so-good-for-you foods without having to worry about relapsing and binging because you shocked your system and deprived yourself. You can find tips for eating healthy HERE and a list of my favorite healthy snacks HERE.
3. Sign up For an Obstacle Course or Race
Choose a friend, solicit your spouse, or find a family member and sign up for a race or obstacle course together. Choose one later in the year to give you time to train for it. But don’t wait to sign up! One of the best ways to stay motivated to accomplish your fitness resolutions is to have a reason to–having already paid for the race is a good reason. And with an accountability partner doing it with you, you have everything you need to get in shape throughout the year and showcase it on the obstacle course.
4. Start Using a Meditation App
Meditating is one of the best practices to better your mental health, which affects your physical health. While it can be hard to start meditating consistently at first, there are many apps out there now that can help you come up with a meditation plan and stick to it. Here’s a list of seven apps to try! While you might not see the direct correlation between meditation and weight loss, I promise there is one. Prioritizing your mental health works wonders for your physical health. It reduces stress, which reduces strain on your heart, increases energy levels, and focuses your mind so you can accomplish all you set out to do.
5. Give Yourself a Bedtime
As silly as it sounds, adults need bedtimes too. There are so many benefits of sleep on your physical and mental health–it boosts your immune system, improves your mood, enhances your exercise performance, prevents weight gain, improves memory, and more! If you’re a busy mom or have a demanding job, giving yourself a bedtime in 2022 might just be the best thing you do for yourself all year.
Workout with the #ALFitCrew in 2022
If you’re looking for the best home workouts, access to a personal trainer without breaking the bank, and a community of like-minded women to workout with in the new year, you’ve found it! The #ALFitCrew App is my personalized training application, where I provide custom exercise plans, live workouts, an exercise library, accountability, guidance, and more to help you stick to and accomplish your fitness resolutions. You can learn more about the #ALFitCrew App HERE. Then sign up for the January #ALFitChallenge to get a feel for what our fitness community is all about.
