Tips For Setting Fitness Goals and Increasing Your Motivation

By
Ariel H
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Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Are you new to the gym or starting to put more focus on your workout routine? Before you can create your fitness plan, you have to figure out and set your goals and how long it will take to get to them. Here are four tips for setting fitness goals.

Set Your Mindset

Actually getting started is the hardest part when it comes to starting a new routine. If you’re new to fitness your first step is to find a gym that feels comfortable. Someone should be happy to show you the equipment and how it works. If you’ve been going to the gym for a while, but you’re switching your goals, think of what’s worked in the past when setting up goals. Finally, if you’ve taken time off from the gym and are ready to get back in, remember that you need to ease back into it and you won’t be able to pick up from where you left off.

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✨GETTING STARTED 105: First day at the gym? What do you do?✨ . The hardest part is getting out of the house and entering the gym. Don’t ever get discouraged by the sight of all those fit people there who look like they exercise for a living. They are just like you – working people trying to make time in their busy schedules to get in shape. Keep in mind that all of them were where you are at this moment – feeling a little anxious and wondering where to start. Few things to keep in mind: 1️⃣Don’t try to lose 5 kgs in one day: A common mistake people make is to overwork their bodies on the first day at the gym. Do a little more each day, but don’t spend fours hours at the gym. Otherwise, sustaining an injury is almost guaranteed. Start with 3-4 exercises and move on from there. . 2️⃣Stretching: Don’t even think about doing any kind of  training without warming up. You need to get your blood flowing and muscles warm so they don’t tear too much when you train them. Stretching is one of the perfect kinds of warmups which I will cover in the next post so stay tuned for that. . 3️⃣Do a beginners strength workout: Good strength training for newbies is a simple one. Use lighter weights so you can focus on your posture and technique. I will have a begineers workout split up in a couple of days for those interested. . 4️⃣Recover right: You have survived your first workout at the gym. Now you have to refuel properly. Make sure you get good amounts of protein and carbs post workout.

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Identify Your Goal

In addition to losing weight, there are other goals to consider. These include muscle gain and strength. If you want to look more toned and stronger, consider muscle gain training. For fat loss, you’ll need to have a combination of training and proper nutrition.

Set a Timeline

Start by breaking down your big picture goals into smaller more manageable ones. Like if you want to lose 50 pounds in a year, think about what this looks like in terms of weight loss for one month. This will help hold you accountable during the duration of the period.

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I used to sit at my desk at work scrolling through insta, my insta is full of fitness and inspiration and that’s what I loved, it made me happy. Someone would come over and talk to me about an insurance renewal and I would switch off from my dreams and remember where I was. I couldn’t hide the fact I hated my job and I am surprised my boss didn’t have words as the last few months I just had 0 interest and it showed. I wanted to work in a gym, I wanted to motivate others and I needed that atmosphere on a day to day basis. I had found my passion after joining @rwl and just needed to do it. I went online, did some research, found a course and applied. It was the best thing I ever did. It’s taken me a while to complete the course but working full time and looking after a small human meant it took a bit of a back seat but I got it done. I now work in a gym and every day I go to work with a huge smile on my face. I did take a pay cut and had to go back to working weekends but it was worth it to be happy in my every day life. Now the learning continues, I have passed my level 2/3, spin, bootcamp/circuits, kettlebell and started my les mills sh’bam and now my advanced fitness testing. Next on my list are Pre & postnatal, Olympic weightlifting, advanced nutrition and boxercise. . I love every single aspect of my job and I miss it so much! I only got my job in September and had to stop in March due to lockdown but one thing is for sure, I’m lucky to have a job to go back to which I love and im passionate about. . I was a beautician/spa manager for 16 years and never did I ever feel the way I do about being a fitness instructor. I feel lucky to have my hobby and my job all rolled in to one. Please Bojo give the go ahead to open gyms soon!!! . . Moral of the story – if you want it, go get it!!! . . #rwl #rwlfitties #weightlossjourney #weightloss #weightlosstransformation #weightlossmotivation #weightlossgoals #fitness #fitnessmotivation #fitnessmotivation #fitnessjourney #caloriedeficit #caloriecounting #thisgirlcan #progressnotperfection #progress #girlswholift #kettlebell #strongwomen #strongnotskinny #vikkisarmy #rwlsummertone #summertone #vikkissummertonearmy

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Stay Consistent

Willpower and motivation will only get you so far when it comes to reaching your goals. It’s important to be consistent and to take small steps instead of making drastic changes when moving towards your goal. Variety in your workouts can help your routines feel less boring over time. Make sure you track your progress throughout your journey and try and look beyond just the scale to see if you’ve reached your goals.