5 WAYS TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR FITNESS GOALS
It is always good to have goals in life - it is a way to achieve what is important to us, and it fills us with meaning. That may no longer be true when it comes to fitness. By setting achievable fitness goals, we strengthen not only physical but also mental strength. And it is this journey of small steps and mini-services that moves us forward to achieve our ultimate goal and show our true potential.
But, of course, the journey is not easy, there are obstacles on the way that can make you feel that you want to give up, or that you will not reach your goal as quickly as you would like, and that is why it is so important to keep an overview, while you keep your fitness goals in mind.
Read on to discover 5 ways to stay on the right track and make your fitness dreams come true.
1. Keep track of the progress you are making
Nowadays, there are so many technologies that will help you measure your physical fitness that finding the perfect sports watch for women can be a little intimidating. First of all, you need to think carefully about what you want to track. For example, do you want to increase your speed while running? Or maybe you want to increase your distance? Do you want to keep track of your heartbeat so you can train in optimal fat burning mode? Or maybe you just want to keep track of how many steps you take a day?
There is a portable fitness device that can meet almost any need. So make sure you do your research online and ask your fitness friends for recommendations. They may even give you a taste of their body before you agree to buy it for yourself.
2. Connect to the app
Apps such as Strava, Couch to 5k, My Fitness Pal, and just to name a few, are a fantastic way to hold you accountable, remind you of your training days, record your progress and reward you on your way. Simply download the app to your phone, enter your data - and you're ready to go.
Most apps allow you to chat with friends who use the same app, and that's especially good if you're in a competition and you can't watch your dad take more steps on that day than you can!
The good thing about many apps today is that they offer free versions which, frankly, are more than good enough if you are just getting started and don't want to take advantage of some of the more advanced features yet. If you find that you need more, you can always upgrade to a paid version which usually includes a yearly subscription to unlock add-ons.
3. Keep a fitness diary
If the technique is really not for you, then go old-school and arm yourself with a good old notebook and pen and write down your fitness goals instead. You can not only list the time, measurements, repetitions and other statistics, but also use your diary to write down how you feel that day, as it will also affect your performance.
It also gives you good clues to look back and shows you how far you have come, what will have a great influence on your confidence and motivation. You can really jump on it and let your creative side run free, writing scribbles, color coding and recording positive, inspiring messages for yourself. Let your imagination wake up and know what you like.
4. To take pictures
If you are more like a visual person, one way to motivate yourself is to follow your success with photos. The first photos will seem like a daunting prospect, but try to overcome your uncertainty and think about the long-term benefits. Remember to wear the same clothes every time you take a photo (underwear or swimsuits are best because they show your body for the better), because then you can more easily detect changes in body shape.
The scale will not always show the desired amount, and you will feel that your workout was not great and that your performance is going down. Hormones, sleep, stress and other external factors can play a role in how you feel and how your body reacts, and of course remember that muscles weigh more than fat.
But pictures don't lie. The clear proof that all your training and hard work are bearing fruit is exactly the motivation that you need to continue your plans and achieve your fitness goals. Take pictures from different angles in order to get a complete picture of your body, and then repeat it every month. These first pictures will serve as a reminder of why you are doing this, as sometimes we may lose track of why we started this journey in the first place.
It's up to you where you store your photos: maybe hidden in your laptop, stored in your mobile phone, or if you feel super brave when you get stuck on the fridge door. If that's not motivation, I'm not sure what it is!
5. Reward yourself
If there is one thing that is guaranteed to keep you on track to achieve your goal, it is reward-based training. Well, if it works on dogs! Use your fitness log (see above) to plan ahead a bit and mark some key points in your fitness journey.
By breaking down bigger goals into smaller ones you not only make long-term success more likely but also open up more opportunities to reward yourself as you reach these milestones. The biggest factor will be to find out what makes you tick, for what you will do anything. For example, if you are motivated by your experience, book a manicure, a shopping trip or even a health day when you reach a certain point. If you're a foodie, promise yourself a piece of cake or food that will push you forward - remember that a piece of cake won't spoil your diet, if at all, it will help to dispel your lust, because life shouldn't come down to denying you what you love. Or maybe you're equally motivated by the promise to spend the night away from home work and instead spend some time in the bathroom with a glass of wine and a good book. Find your thing and watch as the promise of an award will help you get a little more cheerful!
Everyone falls back into the bottle from time to time, we are all human after all, but hopefully these 5 ways to help you stay fit will help you get back on your feet and see you reach goals that you care about.
