Step-By-Step Guide to Crushing Your Fitness Goals
If you are here, you’re already one step closer to crushing your goals and making fitness an integral part of your life.
Let's face it, embarking on a fitness journey is tough. There will be highs and lows, set backs, you'll feel rundown, you name it. But that's why I'm here and why I've created this mini guide that is simple, to the point, and made to help you crush your goals and SUCCEED!
1- Schedule workouts in your calendar
Think of workouts as important business meetings. You'd never cancel on your boss would you? So don't cancel on yourself! Your health is your life. Remember this is about YOU, and it isn't selfish to take care of yourself, it's necessary. If you’re just getting started, start by scheduling just two workouts per week, don't overwhelm yourself. Then, do NOT miss these. As you get into a solid routine, add in more days that work for you.
2- Invest in good gear
Think of this like a fresh start - by grabbing a new pair of kicks, or a new sports top, you'll boost your confidence, be that much more excited to crush your workout... and look good while doing it ;-) Where our mind goes, our body follows, so feeling confident is the first step in a new process. In addition to feeling great, having good gear is essential for training properly and helping to prevent injury.
3- Identify your “why”
Starting a fitness journey is a big deal and it’s something that should become an integral part of your life. A huge part to staying consistent and positive is finding out why you want to start. That intrinsic motivation is more powerful than any IG post or motivational speaker. Why? Because it's YOURS! Once you figure out your "why," write it down and put it somewhere you can see it! When you feel like you're losing motivation, come back to it.
4- Try different types of workouts.
Fitness is not a one-size fits all! If you don't enjoy it, you won't do it! You have to find your fitness "game changer." The trick is determining your goal and picking a style of fitness that you enjoy. Try new things and shake it up, you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Home workouts, gym workouts, low impact workouts, cycling, find what ignites your soul and fitness that you look forward to.
I've talked about it before, but my "game changer" was why I created my Commit Programs. Feel free to take advantage of the 14-day free trial and try them out.
5- Are you going to be a solo gym go-er or a group fitness gal?
Do you need alone time or do you want to socialize and need accountability? Sometimes you may want different types of environments for different times. Remember to always tune into you and really ask yourself what you need. Figuring out what fitness means to you is crucial. Sometimes you may want alone time, but sometimes accountability.
And remember, on the EvolveYou App you get the best of both worlds. Your workout programs, a planner plus a community of thousands of women world-wide embarking on similar journeys cheering each other on. You can chose to use the forum and different groups for encouragement or not.
6- Get some basic at-home equipment and have a plan!
Even if you decide to join a gym, it's still good to have some basic fitness equipment at home to get you started or for days you cannot make it to the gym. A mat, resistance bands or cheap set of dumbbells are perfect. Here is a link to some of my go-to at-home pieces of equipment that you can find on Amazon.
Make sure to have a plan when it comes to your fitness. If you don't know where to start check out my programs on the EvolveYou App to help you get started! I have the workouts ready and waiting for you; home workouts, gym workouts, low impact, HIIT and so on. Not the app we also have a built in planner and forum to help keep you accountable.
7- Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition.
Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. We need to be adequately fueled with nutrient dense foods for function and performance. Start to think about how you are fueling your body and what you are putting into it. Become aware of feeding yourself with macro and micro nutrients that help you to feel your best. Fill your plate with real, whole foods. Incorporate protein into every meal. Start slow, make gradual changes so that you are able to remain balanced, healthy and happy. If it's tough to get protein in regularly throughout the day, don't be afraid to try protein shakes. Here is a link to my favorite supplements to fill in the gaps and aid your diet when necessary.
8- Know that it will not always be easy
Motivation comes and goes, our mood fluctuates, our strength fluctuates, our day to day will always be different... and that is OKAY. That's why its about building a routine that works best for YOU for long-term success. It's like brushing our teeth... we don't always want to, sometimes we're rushed or tired, but we do it anyway because we know it is good for us and healthy for us. Likewise with movement, it is GOOD for us. We will reap all the benefits when done regularly.
Eating healthy when money is tight can be challenging, but it is possible. Some quick tips: plan your recipes, shop with a list, buy frozen or canned, use coupons, buy store brands, try a small garden.
It all is easier said than done, but try not to over-think it. We want to build life-long sustainable habits. It is about consistency over perfection. We will have to modify, we will have to adjust, but we keep on showing up for ourselves, then overtime, we will look back and see how far we've come.
Xo, Melissa
