Here’s a depressing fact:

According to the most recent data from U.S. News & World Report, 80% of all New Year’s Resolutions fail by February.

That’s right – 8 out of 10 people will abandon their New Year’s goals just one month into the year.

Why? That depends on the individual, of course. But we want you to be a part of the 20% who stick to theirs.

So to give you some help with your fitness goals this year, we asked our three experts from the NW Fitness Training Team – Nicole Wilkins, Maureen Ashley and Naomi Rabon – for their thoughts on why most resolutions fail, and how to make sure that won’t be you this year.

 

Nicole

Reason #1: You give up when it gets hard and don’t believe in yourself enough.

Let’s face it – success is not easy!  Fitness is one of those goals you cannot buy – you actually have to put in the work every day (which is also why it’s so rewarding).

In the beginning, your new goal is really exciting.  Your mindset is strong and you head to the gym raring to go, and spend your free time preparing your meals for a few days at a time to keep your nutrition on track.

But after a few weeks, life happens … and things inevitably start to get harder. Your body is sore, you get sick of eating chicken breast and quite frankly can think of a million other things you could be doing instead of working out.

So you slack off for a day, maybe two.  But then that one day turns into one week and soon you are completely off the wagon and almost back where you where before you started. And you feel annoyed with yourself, discouraged and are left wondering if this is even really worth it.

Trust me – it is! One of the main keys to reaching your fitness goals is to stay consistent even when it gets hard, and even when you don’t feel like doing it. Because everyone – even those people you look up to on social media or see in the magazines – everyone doesn’t want to do it at some point in time. What separates those who reach their goals from those who doing it getting up and doing it even when you don’t want to.

Adjust your training if you are sore or tired and ALWAYS make sure you have something cooked in the fridge to avoid grabbing the quick convenient (and most likely unhealthy) options instead.

Tell yourself every single day that you are worth it!  If you fall off, get back on as soon as humanly possible.  This isn’t a fad or something you are doing “until”. Convince yourself that this is your new lifestyle and this is the new you.

 

Reason #2: You don’t have a plan.

How many times have you heard someone say, ‘I want to lose weight’ or ‘I am going to get back in shape’? Probably a ton-  I know I have!  The thing is, talk is cheap and just going through the motions without a specific plan will leave you floundering and eventually wondering you aren’t meeting your goals.

Before you stop talking and start doing, ask yourself these questions:

What is my specific goal?

Why do I want to reach this goal?

What are the steps I am going to take to reach this goal?

When do I want to reach this goal?

Once you narrow down more specifically what your goal is, you can then create your plan of action.  Once you have a date set to reach this goal, you now know exactly what you need to do to reach it.  So let’s get planning!

 

Maureen

Reason #1: You don’t know your WHY.

When choosing a goal, try and dig a little deeper into Why you want to achieve it.  Most of the time it’s not as simple as I want to lose 10 pounds.

Why do you want to lose that weight?  What’s at stake if you don’t meet this goal?  What is the reason you are doing this?

Creating a strong Why gives you an emotional connection to your goal. If you don’t create that connection, you will make excuses and that will ultimately hold you back from achieving what you want.

 

Reason #2: Your goal is unrealistic.

It’s important to make sure that the goal you are setting also coincides with a realistic time frame in order to achieve it.  For example, setting a goal to lose 40 pounds by February isn’t realistic (or safe).

Be realistic with what you are capable of at this time. Pick a goal that you feel confident that you can and will achieve it, then set another one.  You will be able to face it head on and know that with a little determination and hard work, it’s possible. And by achieving it, you’ll build the confidence necessary to reach the next one.

 

Naomi

Reason #1: Your goal is not specific enough.

With the new year comes a rush of ALL the things you want to accomplish: build more muscle, lose body fat, get toned, run a 5k, lift like a boss (as in heavy). You are basically attempting to become an entirely different person – and you want it NOW!

It helps to narrow your focus to one or two specific goals, so that you can actually achieve those and then tackle another one or two. Spreading yourself too thin in the goals department can almost guarantee you’ll overwhelm yourself and get discouraged.

 

Reason #2: You are not surrounding yourself with the right people.

Making healthy choices, trying to stick to your goals and adopt healthy habits can be hard enough as it is. But feeling like an outsider, being questioned constantly about why you’re eating healthy, why you’re going to the gym so much and feeling like you often have to explain yourself or justify your lifestyle choices to people who don’t have the same priorities can put an even bigger dent in your efforts.

This can trigger negative thoughts and self-doubt about your goals and efforts. There is an old saying Birds of a feather flock together.

Surrounding yourself with other like-minded, supportive individuals who are pursuing a healthy lifestyle can make you feel better about your goals and fuel your motivation to keep going.

Building a community and support network can also help keep you accountable and may even help push you to reach higher health and fitness goals!

 

Looking for the right plan to help you stick to your resolutions and get in your best-ever shape this year? Join the 60 Day Total Body Transformation Challenge and join the thousands of people who have changed their lives for the better! Click the image below to find out more!