12 tips to stay on track with your New Year’s fitness resolutions

Jan. 16, 2019

It’s January and you’ve likely made a New Year’s resolution to take better care of yourself — and you may have already broken it. Georgian’s Fitness Centre staff have prepared a few tips to help ensure your resolution sticks.

1. Set realistic fitness goals. Start with 15 to 20 minutes of exercise a few times a week and then build on that plan. The important thing is just to start moving. Short-term goals are easier to keep, and each small accomplishment will help keep you motivated. Instead of focusing on losing 30 pounds, focus on losing the first five.
2. Write everything down. Keep a food journal to help you stay on track.
3. Plan ahead. It’s easier to eat well when you have all the necessary ingredients. Plan some meals and shop at the beginning of the week to ensure your fridge and cupboards are stocked with a good supply of healthy food.
4. Schedule your fitness. This is time set aside for you and your well-being. So, block off an hour or so in your calendar for a little “you time”.
5. Find a fitness buddy. Buddy systems are great for encouragement when you’re not feeling it.
6. Find ways to reward yourself. Celebrate your success by treating yourself to something you enjoy that doesn’t interfere with your resolution. Reward yourself with new fitness clothing or pay yourself every time you go to the gym or do something active. You can put that money aside to save for something you want.
7. Forget about the scale. While it’s a big boost of confidence to see the number on the scale go down, it’s also about your clothes fitting better and having more energy.
8. Hire a personal trainer. Georgian has a number of great personal trainers who can set you up with a personal program to meet your goals.
9. Mix it up. Changing your fitness program on a regular basis helps you avoid falling off the wagon. Variety is the spice of life!
10. Don’t beat yourself up. Obsessing over the occasional slip won’t help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day, and take one day at a time. If you fall off the wagon, just start again the next day.
11. Be patient and stick to it. Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit and six months for it to become part of your personality.
12. Try something new! The Barrie Campus Fitness Centre offers a number of cool fitness and nutrition sessions including: GrizzFit challenge (Jan. 21 to March 1), Meet the Dietician (Jan. 28), Row-Bike-Run (Jan. 29), Valentine’s Day Partner Workout and Partner Yoga (Feb. 14), Glow in the Dark Yoga (March 5), and Meal Prep with Pam (March 6, 13 and 20).

To find out more about different classes or session, contact Craig Campbell, Barrie Campus Fitness Co-ordinator, go online to see what’s happening at other campus locations, or speak with any of the friendly staff at the front desk in the Athletics Centre.