It is now the second week of January and although this isn’t my first post in 2018, it is the first time I’m addressing fitness matters now that my December running challenge is over.
I’m proud to say that I definitely stayed active during the holiday season, just exercising and doing a little bit every day. Things got kind of rough towards the last week of 2017 when lack of sleep started to catch up with me, but thankfully I didn’t have to do anything super strenuous anyway, so I was able to recuperate.
The worst thing when starting a new year is feeling like you’re dead in the water and need to get the engine started and momentum going. That’s why I kept active throughout December thanks to the Nike Run Club app. Regular exercise coupled with sensible eating (only until I was satisfied) resulted in a four-pound weight loss despite the numerous opportunities to feast! These were awesome results to start 2018 with, and I definitely feel motivated that I can continue losing the extra weight I carried through most of 2017.
Starting a new year on the right foot, for me, is all about starting it with the right people. My family likes staying close to home during those two weeks of Christmas and New Year, and so my holidays weren’t particularly exciting or action-packed. But they were full of love, and that’s how I like celebrating big occasions. Check out this short vlog about our New Year’s Eve festivities:
So today I got back in the gym, and I went in knowing I’d be sharing the space with a few people getting on with their New Year resolutions to get fit and healthy. Did you know though, that the attrition rate is super high? This Wall Street Journal article reveals that Facebook check-ins to gyms peak in January but start to dip in February and beyond.
It’s really important for January resolutioners to create that habit of exercising that can take them through the rest of the year. If you’ve decided to do something new fitness-wise in 2018, here are a few tips to keep you going.
- Have a goal. You can’t just say, “I’m going to exercise more” or “I want to lose weight.” Set some concrete goals so that you know exactly what you’re aiming for. Then it will be clear how you’ll get there.
- Make a plan. You have to plot out when specifically you’ll make time for exercise, and what kind of exercise you’ll do. If you use the Nike Training Club or Nike Run Club apps, you’ll be able to create workout plans suited for your fitness level and the number of days in a week you can commit. Then, just do it!
- Reward yourself for milestones along the way. No, I don’t mean treat yourself to an ice cream or pizza if you lose a little bit of weight! Oddly enough, just checking off a box on a list of things to do, or crossing out a day on the calendar can provide a feeling of accomplishment. Another non-food reward: going to a movie. Or if you’ve been eyeing a purchase, hold off on buying it until you reach a milestone — this will give you extra motivation! Positive reinforcement matters.
- Remember that this is about your goals, not about what anyone else says. Some people get super self-conscious when they think others are watching them and judging them for how they look. I’m telling you, what others think or say about you doesn’t matter! This is your fitness journey and nobody has any business telling you or making you feel that you can’t do it.
Let’s make 2018 a good one. 🙂
