3 Important Tips to Bulletproof your Health and Fitness Resolutions

In January, millions of people around the world are going to decide that they want the New Year to be different. You’re likely one of them. Unfortunately, a large percentage of those millions of people are going to choose courses of action that lead them nowhere. If you want the New Year to be different — truly different and not just imaginatively different — then my fitness-guru, Gareth Nock, has got THREE important tips to think about before you even begin to consider your health and fitness resolutions for the New Year.


1) Set S.M.A.R.T goals:
When you set goals it is important to make them S.M.A.R.T to improve your success. 
S - Specific: Try to by very precise with your goal for example "I want to reduce 5lbs of body fat in 6 months" instead of "lose weight"
M - Measurable: When goals are Specific you can then set a start point by measuring where you are once you start, using traditional circumference measurements, a body composition scale or a simple 1 - 10 scale for how you feel.
A - Attainable: To attain any goal you must have a good plan, you have to develop new habits, skills and attitudes! 
A professional in the field of your chosen goal can help you build this plan.
R - Realistic: The goal you set must be realistic. You are both need to be willing & physically able to achieve the goal you set. 
T - Time Framed: You should finalize your goal setting with a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there’s no sense of urgency. If you want to lose 10 lbs, when do you want to lose it by? “Someday” won’t work. 

2) Diet & Lifestyle:
Some simple diet and lifestyle changes you can implement in your New Year plan.
* Increase your water intake - hydration is important for your performance, energy levels and your skin! 
My favourite is to add some lemon and lime to the water, it gives a little kick and this will also support your immune system.
* Walk more - increase your steps on a daily basis, try getting off the bus or subway a stop early, twice a day 7 days a week - that's a lot of extra steps
* Increase your good fat intake: Healthy fats in your diet are super important for the function of your metabolism, absorption of vital fat soluble vitamins and reducing inflammation in the body. Try Avocado, Almonds, Salmon & Coconut Oil.

3) Sustaining Motivation:
Once you have made you positive changes you have to stick to the new habits.
* Set yourself small daily/weekly goals to achieve and reward yourself with some new workout music or a massage - these will add up and keep you on track to a larger goal a little further in the future.
* Have a daily reminder of where you are headed - e.g: Create a pin board, write your #1 goal and also some smaller weekly goals on it to remind of your journey and put it on a place that you go to or see every day. 
* Be accountable - commit to a course or sign up for some personal training, maybe arrange your workout schedule with a friend so you have to meet them at the gym. Having an 'appointment' will really help to keep you consistent and this is the #1 factor in getting where we want to be.

 Author: Gareth Nock

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