How To Stay On Track With Your Fitness Goals

With #fitspo posts taking Instagram by storm, the active community has never been more… well, active.

But beyond the neon activewear and mid-flex-gym-selfies, it’s hard work, persistence and the rise and grind of those never-ending fitness goals that remain essential to gain these gainz.

But what even are fitness goals? Is it to be bikini body ready by summer? To lose 10kg? Perhaps gain 10kg? To some, yes. However, these fitness goals are tough to keep at. Why? Because they’re focused on how you look, and a number on a scale; both of which are factors that aren’t completely indicative of your fitness level, or your health.

So the first step in staying on track with your fitness goal is to have an actual, solid fitness goal. Instead of focusing on getting shredded and gaining a six-pack, aim to be healthy; to be happy. Focus on how you feel rather than how you look. Do you feel fit? That’s the real question.

While aiming to lose weight may be a start, once you hit your goal weight, what’s next? And if reaching your goal means you’re constantly fatigued, eating almost nothing, then of course, it’s not going to be a goal you can sustain. After you’ve got a fitness goal, break it up into micro-goals; some things you can work on every day and feel like a living legend when you do them.

Aim to punch out a workout every afternoon. Also aim to start the day well with a clean breakfast. But remember, balance is key. If each day is leg day, then that’s no good – best case scenario, your legs will feel like jelly; worst case is an injury. Either way, it’ll stop you from working out.

Instead, go for a run one day, do some circuits the next; swim; lift; do what you enjoy, but mix it up so you don’t get bored. Oh, and a rest-day is super important. Take some time off to recover and be lazy – it’s your reward for working so hard!

Keeping at these goals doesn’t mean splurging out on gym memberships or activewear. There are heaps of free workout videos online and free fitness apps that are even better than the gym. Also, the plus of working out at home or in the park is that you don’t have to deal with people not re-racking their weights, or not wiping their sweat from equipment. Ew, I know.

So, as winter approaches, create a fitness goal you can work on for, literally, forever. With fitness, you are never ‘there’; improvements can always be made: you can lift heavier, run faster, run for longer, feel better, et cetera. It all starts at the start. Pick a rockin’ goal that resonates with you.

You got this.

Photo: iStock

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