12 Plans That Could Make a Lasting Impact on Your Fitness Goals all Year Round.

1. Just walk out of the door to befriend the couch
If you have been stuck to the couch or your office chair for as-long as you can remember, then the quickest way to get off the block on the journey to a fitter you next year might be just to walk out of that door. There’s a good reason why running is the most popular workout on the planet; it can help you build resilience for the strenuous activities you plan to take up during the coming year and discern your current level of fitness.

2. Stay excited about your goals
“If it doesn’t excite you, it is probably not going to work for you”.
Whether you are looking to hit a gym or pick activities to engage in outdoors, find others who are in immersed in similar activities, if you aren’t sure of what to do to help you understand and carry out the activity. Don’t refrain from changing an activity if you do not approve of it, once you embark on it. Holding on to something for long that doesn’t keep you interested, may end up discouraging you from getting physically active in the first place.

3. Snack more to lose more weight
That’s right. Stick to a few meals and complement them by snacking on natural foods, such as fruits or nuts, in between instead of skipping meals, such as your dinner or even sticking to just three meals a day, which may not necessarily lead to weight loss anyway. There’s also plenty of research out there backing the claim that skipping meals or eating a large meal can lead to complications, such as a delayed insulin response, which can increase your chances of developing diabetes.

5. Get past your goal on your feet: Running a 5k
Considering marathons/running is the most popular form of racing in the world, you can start by picking a 5K if you haven’t run before, haven’t run in a long time or if just the thought of running excites you. Register for one of the 5K races out there on the internet, Google one of the gazillion training programmes for a 5K run and join one of the ‘Couch to 5K’ running groups out there if you lack or need the motivation to get into your stride.

6. Treat your time to train as an important business meeting
Sit down with your calendar, note down where you are going to fit your workouts/activities during the week and stick to it. Before you conclude that you might have a fall out with your plan, decide what steps you want to take to make the activities you choose a habit. For instance, if you are used to working late in the office, begin dabbling with early morning workout sessions; if you only have time to be a ‘weekend warrior’, figure out a day in the week where you can squeeze in a quick-20minute workout session or any other activity that you enjoy.

7. Zap your fat using an app
Since most of us spend so much time working out our thumbs on our smartphone’s, it’s only fair that the app store comes loaded with a host of apps that coerce you into tracking or monitoring your health more seriously. Look out for apps that are goal-oriented and hold you accountable for your achievements as well as your failures.

8. Go back to school to stay motivated
Pick up a short-term course or join a classroom if possible to keep your mind stimulated and your brainpower boosted. You might ask why? Well, realising a sense of accomplishment or attaining knowledge can help keep age-borne diseases at bay and keep the largest muscle in your body, your brain, in pristine condition. In fact, recent studies indicate that middle-aged adults who go back to school had a decreased risk of developing diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.

9. Resolute resolutions
The more realistic your goals, the greater the chance of you achieving them. If you plan to get up bright and early for the first time tomorrow, go for a long run, eat healthy through the day, not miss a session through the week, and maintain the same intensity through the month, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Such tactics can backfire on you; especially if the only activity you have been consistent with is reclining on your couch in the recent past. Instead, ease into inculcating healthier habits into your life, such as adding one fruit into your diet every day for starters or setting the alarm for the same time every day for a workout.

10. Count the ingredients, not the calories
Avoid overwhelming yourself with complicated recipes and calorie counts; especially if you are looking to revamp your diet completely. Instead, opt or hunt for simple dishes that use only a few organic ingredients, but are delicious nonetheless. Look for ingredients that use greens, lean meats, and fruits as their key ingredients.

11. Workout together.
People, who train together make gains together. You may find this suggestion passé, but it is an important recommendation for those overlooking this fact. If you feel like you have exhausted all your options at hand that can keep you hooked on to your goals, find a workout partner who is willing to set a common goal with you if you haven’t already. Doing so will keep you encouraged, motivated, competitive, and increase your accountability towards your goals in the long run.

12. Know more if you want to grow more.
It’s true. Tracking your steps, calories, heart rate, food intake, sleep habits, and activity levels can, in fact, help you inch closer to your fitness goals, faster. There are several fitness trackers out there across a vast spectrum of price ranges. Pick one that suits your needs and helps you stay motivated and in the know of your actions through the day.