5 Motivational Tips to Help You Keep Your Fitness-Related New Year’s Resolution

Losing weight was the No. 1 New Year’s resolution that people in the United States made in 2014, according to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Staying fit and healthy was fifth on that same list. It’s hard to say how many people kept their resolutions; however, judging by how many people are at the gym in January versus in April each year, our guess is that not many people followed through on them.

If losing weight or getting in shape is on your to-do list for 2015, don’t be one of the many individuals who give up come springtime. To help you stay on track, Dr. Abhay Gupta shares five motivational tips that will make keeping your fitness-related New Year’s resolution a bit easier this year.

#1: Take Baby Steps

If you are just beginning to make fitness a priority, start small and set attainable fitness goals that you can achieve each week and then build on the following week. Don’t try to run a marathon before you have jogged your first mile. If you set an impossible fitness goal, the chances are that you will give up before you even start and will feel frustrated with yourself for doing so.

For instance, simply add a brisk 10- or 20-minute walk to your everyday routine or opt to take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Or, just take the parking spot that is farthest away from the grocery store entrance. Anything helps. In fact, in a recent study, formerly sedentary women who routinely walked an additional 470 steps each day (about a 5-minute walk) than they had the week before lost ¼ inch from their waistline — without even adjusting their eating habits. Now imagine how quickly you can reach your health and fitness goals if you combine a short daily walk with a healthier diet!

#2: Have Fun

If you do not enjoy going to the gym, do not make that the main place you exercise. Instead, engage in an active pastime that you find fun. This can be playing tag with your kids in the backyard, walking your dog, swimming in the ocean, going for a hike or tossing a football around with a friend. If you look forward to your physical activity of choice, you are more likely to make it a priority.

#3: Enjoy the Scenery

Another way to make exercising fun is to work out somewhere that offers great scenery. If you choose to go for a hike, pause at the summit to take in the breathtaking views around you. If you take a walk around the neighborhood, don’t be too shy to stop and smell the roses — literally. Even if you have to squeeze in a quick workout at the gym, glance around — the gym is a great place for people watching. You will be surprised how quickly your workout has flown by when you turn your focus outward.

#4: Create an Inspiring Playlist

Listening to good music that appeals to your unique sensibilities makes any workout more enjoyable. Take the time to curate a fun playlist for a variety of workouts. For example, choose relaxing, melodic tunes for yoga or stretching; and stimulating, upbeat music for weight training or cardiovascular exercises. If your goal is to go for a longer-distance run, choose music with steady beats to help you keep a certain pace.

Bonus tip: Avoid listening to your workout playlists when you are not exercising, so you do not get bored with them.

#5: Reward Yourself

Set practical fitness and health goals and then give yourself a treat once you have achieved them — as long as your treat is not food. For example, promise yourself that you will work out three times each week for the next month. If you have achieved your goal at the end of the month, reward yourself with a massage, a new outfit, a fun outing with your family or friends, quiet time away from the kids, a warm bubble bath or a funny movie. The reward is up to you, as long as it does not interfere with your fitness and health goals.

By setting yourself up for success and rewarding yourself for a job well done, you can finally achieve your New Year’s fitness resolution!

Need Help Fine-Tuning Your Figure?

Sometimes, individuals achieve their fitness and health goals but are disappointed to find that they still have pesky “problem areas” that are riddled with stubborn fat that is resistant to a healthy lifestyle. If this is the case, Dr. Gupta can help. He offers liposuction and other body-contouring procedures that will help you fine-tune your figure, so you can achieve the fit body you deserve after all your hard work.

To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Gupta to learn more about your cosmetic surgery or nonsurgical treatment options, please contact Gupta Plastic Surgery by calling (858) 408-6100.

Fun Fact of the Month: Some traditions equate certain foods with prosperity. For instance, some people believe that the more leafy greens an individual eats, the more prosperous that person will be. Others assert that eating legumes that look like coins on New Year’s, including black eyed peas, will bring prosperity. By eating leafy greens and black eyed peas on New Year’s, you can increase your chance of being prosperous while advancing your fitness resolution!