What I find with many of my clients, especially those in take a break from the gym and then return, is that they have unrealistic expectations and set themselves up for failure. During December, don’t set yourself up for failure. Set realistic expectations – realistic but stretch expectations — that you can meet with a lot of focus and effort. Achieving a stretch goal is motivating and will keep you coming back to the gym. Failing to achieve a goal, especially if it was unrealistic to begin with, is deflating and will give you an excuse to not come back to the gym.
Follow these tips and you will succeed, look good for the holidays, and will want to come back to the gym.
- Plan ahead! Look at where you were and where you want to go. Then plan ahead for a month and focus on achieving that goal.
- Look at your week, look at your work schedule and see how many hours will be gym hours. Then schedule it and stick to that schedule.
- Avoid attending parties where you set yourself up for failure. The parties to avoid are ones that will have fattening food loaded with dead calories, or where people will be focused on drinking too much. If you do have to go, drink water, sparkling water, or limit yourself to one drink. Also, eat before you go to the party.
- Lean on your significant other to support you and you support him/her. If you don’t have a significant other, rely on a friend. Make sure you both realize that you will hold each other accountable and stick to the plan.
- Surround yourself with people who you want to be like. It will be easier to make healthy decisions when you support one another.
- Pick a gym goal or challenge for the month of December that you know you can achieve. Maybe it’s mixing in aerobic exercises to your normally routine 3 – 5 times per week. Maybe it’s trying to break that plateau where you’re stuck. Be creative.
- Check out the weekend challenges that Pat’s Gym is doing each week for the month of December and see how you match up.
- If you have a bad day or set back don’t use it as an excuse to not come back to the gym or to abandon a goal. Get back to the plan and don’t beat yourself up.
- Wake up early and get your workout done in the morning. You will have more distractions as the day goes on.
- Let money motivate you. Sign up for a program or all you can train at Pat’s Gym during the holidays. It will give you some accountability.
- Little workouts add up (on the hour, grids, before the shower, when you get up, or before you go to bed).
- Instead of trying to drop weight or fat during a month of festivities, just maintain. January can be your month to drop weight or fat. Remember to be realistic.
- Rely on the healthy habits and routines that you have established. Keep a food diary during December. Writing it down will help you realize what you’re consuming. Also, if you binge at one party and have to write it down, it may serve to deter you from binging at a second party.
If you have ay questions on this blog or any other, please contact me, Pat, at pat@patsgym.com.
