The exercise resolutions I wish my clients would make by James Farmer
Everyone makes them, most don’t keep them. Yet year on year millions of us set out at the start of the year vowing to make a number of changes to our health. Part of the reason so many fail is the resolutions they set are the wrong ones.
Here I’m going to explore the exercise resolutions I wish you would make.
1. Understand that any resolutions you make, you need to be able to commit to them in the long term.
Long lasting change with your body comes with long lasting habits. So, if you’re joining a gym, pick one that you can afford and one that you KNOW you can realistically get to on a regular basis.
When starting an exercise programme, pick one that is suitable for your current fitness levels and not the latest pro-athlete routine that will have you crumpled in a heap by end of day 1 and needing 5 days recovery. You have time! Use it.
If you have any injuries, or any aches and pains, see a physio or a trainer that has the qualifications to help. Incorrect training will often exasperate these problems, which will hinder your progress in the long term. Address what needs to be addressed first, and results will come quicker.
Be honest with yourself with all of these points. It will save you time, pain and money in the long run.
2. Dedicate between 20-60 mins every day for your body.
This could be as long as a 60 min training session, or it could be as short as 20 mins of mobility and core work. Whatever it is, cultivating the daily habit of working on and improving your body will pay dividends over the course of the year and your lifetime. The key is making the time for this. I’m going to let you in on a secret – no one HAS time to train. People who train make time.
Make this time each day a priority.
3. Find someone you can help.
The one thing we are not short of is fitness information on how to get fit and lose weight. The difficulty is that we are drowning in it, and it’s often difficult to make sense of it. Especially when a lot of it seems to be contradictory.
My advice is to find a qualified, recommended trainer who can help guide you and help you achieve your goals.
3. Guys – do more mobility. Girls – lift more weights.
In my experience, nearly all men would benefit by spending more time mobilizing and moving their body, and women would benefit from lifting more weights.
Guys – understand that improved mobility will lead to a reduction in injury risk, improved performance and better posture. This means faster results, and looking better with and without your shirt on.
Girls – lifting weights will not make you big and bulky. It will however make you strong and lean whilst developing the curves you want. Lifting weights will get you to the body you want, and not utilizing them is a huge mistake.
4. Take up a sport and challenge yourself both mentally and physically.
Pick a sport that you enjoy and will challenge you, both mentally and physically. If it’s an individual sport, pick a local competition and train towards it. Find friends and organise a weekly tennis match, or go to your local rock-climbing wall.
Tennis, squash, rock climbing, cycling, running, boxing. The list is endless!
5. My number one tip this new year for weight loss.
Calories matter – and tracking them is a sure fire way of managing them. Once you can track and manage them, it’s a simple step to creating a deficit and losing weight on a consistent basis. My biggest tip this new year? Sign up to Carbon Diet Coach. You can use it to track your calories and it will coach you how to manipulate them to achieve your goals. It’s a STEAL at £9.99 a month.