I’ll honestly say that staying committed to a fitness routine can be challenging, especially if you need an accountability partner to help you stay on track with your workout goals. However, writing a list of my fitness goals has made a difference in the last few months.
At the start of this year, I promised myself to move my body more, improve my daily nutrition, and commit to getting more quality sleep. Before setting my goals, I spoke to ACE-certified fitness guru Grace Albin and the Head of Fitness at Supernatural, Leanne Pedante, to get their advice on staying consistent with my fitness routine.
4 ways to maintain a successful fitness routine
According to Albin and Pedante, maintaining a successful fitness routine starts with shifting your mindset shift and changing your feelings about achieving your goals. Below are the tips they offered to help you stay on track.
1. Prioritize your health
Though it can be tempting to give in to the urge to skip a workout, it’s crucial to prioritize your health and keep your goals in mind. “You must prioritize your exercise regimen without feeling guilty,” Albin insisted.
2. Start your day with exercise
According to Albin, studies show that people are more likely to stick with their fitness routine long-term if they carve out time in the morning to work out. She strongly advised kickstarting your day with movement. “Wake up early and make the first hour of your day about your health,” she said. “It’s such a peaceful way to start your day.”
3. Plan ahead
Pedante believes you should always assume that interruptions will occur, so plan ahead for your comeback. She highly suggested making a playlist of “back in action” songs and saving it for those times you need it most.
Albin agreed, adding that you shouldn’t allow anything to undo your hard work — as long as it doesn’t threaten bodily harm. “Having strict goals can cause an injury that’ll sideline you for months. Remember to listen to your body and gradually layer in the more advanced aspects,” Albin shared.
4. Diversify your workouts
Albin is a huge advocate for making your workouts enjoyable by trying different activities until you find the one that clicks. “The best fitness routine is the one that motivates you to keep coming back,” she said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s yoga, running, weight-lifting, or martial arts — all exercise is great.”
Pedante suggested trying new things like VR fitness, dance, boxing, group classes, or backpacking. “Counting down the minutes on a treadmill is not the only way to exercise. Get out there and find your thing!”
My fitness experience
As of late, my fitness routine has been consistent, which has offered subtle results, like increased stamina, to keep me motivated. In conjunction with my daily workouts, I’ve also focused on tracking my progress to maintain motivation.
Since hearing Albin and Pedante’s advice, I’ve added small meaningful movements, like stretching at my desk, into my daily routine. By incorporating this into my practice, I’ve noticed I’ve been less regretful if I miss a workout due to unforeseen circumstances in my schedule.
I prioritize my health, but after Albin’s advice to get in the gym in the morning, I’ve been slowly moving my workouts to earlier in my day. I usually like to exercise at night, but I’ve found that the earlier I work out, the less stressed I feel throughout the day.
I also diversified my workout routine to include cardio, like brisk walking on the treadmill, HIIT workouts, and yoga. I recently began doing pilates again, too, which has added more complex movement to my routine.
As expected, changing my workout plan has resulted in some frustration when I get out of breath or struggle with a move. To help combat this feeling, I considered Albin and Pedante’s reminder to avoid becoming discouraged during my workouts. With their words in my mind, I’ve been celebrating the small wins, like maintaining a position longer.
Achieve your goals
While this doesn’t mark the beginning of my wellness journey, I’m proud to say that I’ve been more consistent than ever with my fitness goals. I highly suggest using these tips to achieve your new year’s resolutions.
