It’s January and for many this is the time to make new fitness goals.

This month my husband and I are starting a 30 Day Healthy Eating & Exercise program which is going to be great to recharge us. He had shoulder surgery in November and although he was the one that was unable to do any exercise for the first 6 weeks, I kind of fell off my routine also. I admit I am much better with a workout partner than on my own. 🙂 Do you feel that way too?

This time we are doing the program with a group of friends so we can all encourage one another and keep us on track.

Here’s a few suggestion to help you achieve your 2015 fitness goals:

When you make fitness goals, you want to make sure the goal is attainable. It will be easier if you start out with small goals first. What can I achieve in 30 days, 60 days & 90 days? To keep on track it is best to reach your first smaller goal in 2-6 weeks. This will help you stay motivated for the long haul.

What will it take to achieve your fitness goal? You need to be realistic about it. If you know you can only work out 3 days a week, but your goal timeline requires you to work out 5 days a week, then you need to adjust your goal to something more realistic. It is best to know what time you can commit and be honest about your fitness level. It’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t.

Make exercise part of your routine. Just as you set aside time for grocery shopping, cleaning house, work, meals and time with the children, set a time aside for exercise. Exercising on the same days and times each week has helped me to keep to a routine. We have busy lives and sometimes you feel you shouldn’t spend time on yourself, but I know from personal experience you are a much happier mother, wife, friend etc… when you do! It is an excellent example for your children too.

You need to be able to see yourself reaching your goal. Picking a program that you can stick to is very important. Be honest and ask yourself “can I realistically see myself doing what it takes to achieve my goal?” If you can then go for it!

Get a workout partner. If you can’t hire a personal trainer, then find a friend or your spouse to workout with. I have a standing appointment with a girlfriend to hike each week. I love it! It keeps both of us accountable not to mention it’s great to have that time together. The other days of the week I workout with my husband at the gym or we go walking/running. It’s another way to spend quality time with your spouse. I love having and being their personal cheerleaders.

Make your workouts convenient. Working out is already work so traveling long distances to get to that workout might keep you from staying motivated. To make it easier, find a gym close by, set up a small gym in your home, workout to fitness DVD’s, hike the closest trails or you can walk, run or bike in your own neighborhood. I do the latter a lot, I love being able to walk out my door and start my workout.

Reward yourself! Rewards are important when setting effective and realistic fitness goals. When you achieve even the small goals reward your achievement! Buy yourself a new magazine, enjoy a long bath, get a massage, or buy a new piece of workout clothing. This will help you to keep striving to reach your next exercise goal. It’s a time to compliment yourself for your hard work. You deserve it!

Don’t be afraid to tweak your fitness goals. Sometimes life gets in the way, we can always jump back in and keep going. 

Being fit and living the “healthy lifestyle” is not just about exercise, you have to support your new fitness habit with eating healthy foods. It’s been said that 80% of your fitness is what you eat, your nutrition. Part of the 30 day system  I mentioned at the beginning contains the nutrition we need to supplement two of our meals with high quality whey protein shakes. Along with those shakes we will have a healthy snacks and a meal each day consisting of:

• lean meat & fish
• vegetables and fruit
• whole grains
• drinking plenty of water throughout the day

The flexibility of this system allows you to incorporate it into your lifestyle and make changes that last. It is not a one size fits all, the products can be used differently to work in the different stages of your life.

What ever program you choose, just do your best to stick to it. We can’t get the results if we don’t stick to our plan.

Have fun and make 2015 a healthy one!

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live”.                                        ∼ Jim Rohn