We’re already a couple weeks into the new year. If you’re one, like many, who have decided to make fitness resolutions, now is a good time to assess how your plan is going. Many people fail on their resolutions within the first month, so here are some tips on how you can keep your momentum going.

Reassess Your Resolutions

If you find yourself struggling already, it’s not too late to reassess your resolutions. Don’t consider it a failure and give up. They must just need some reworking to be more realistic.

It is estimated that 80% of resolutions fail. There are many causes that contribute to such a high failure rate. Typically, they are goals that are unrealistic, immeasurable, or simply unsustainable. It’s easy to lose motivation and give up when you realize that your goals aren’t feasible, aren’t timely, or are too difficult to achieve. When making your New Year’s resolutions, avoid immediately setting yourself up for failure.

Do your resolutions follow the SMART guidelines? SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. When setting or assessing your resolutions, these guidelines will give you a much greater chance of success.

Let’s take weight loss as an example because it’s a popular resolution. Let’s assume you want to shed 15 pounds by the end of June to get your summer body back. This goal is specific that can be measured and is achievable in a 6-month time frame. It’s also good to set up benchmarks, or check points, to break up your long-term goal into short-term goals. That way, you’ll know what kind of progress you’re making, and it’ll allow you to keep your fitness momentum going all year long.

Consistency is Key to Fitness Momentum

Now that we’ve reassessed our resolutions, it’s time to put our plan in action! What if staying motivated throughout the year was easier than you thought? The answer: consistency. Don’t think you have to drop 20 pounds in the first month. That’s unrealistic and certainly unsustainable (and for many people, really unhealthy). What you should focus on instead is maintaining consistency in your routine. The journey won’t be easy, and you should always challenge yourself, but consistency will allow you to stay motivated and make gradual progress. As Denzel Washington once said, “Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship.”

Challenges and hardships will occur, but at least you’ll know you’re getting somewhere. As always, reassess your goals and make adjustments when necessary.

Ask for Support

If you need additional accountability, find support in a workout buddy or a personal trainer. LSF’s trainers are a great resource and very knowledgeable when it comes to fitness goals. You can grab your friends and join our small group training programs at Lincoln Park and Illinois Center, or if you want more individual attention, they can work with you one-on-one. We also have our New Year | New You program at Lincoln Park, which is an 8-week fitness program that allows you to work with a personal trainer and join in unlimited small group training sessions! If you’re interested in joining, email [email protected]!