4 Fitness Life Hacks to Help You Start the New Year Strong

Boy, last year went fast, didn’t it? Now we’re thrust full throttle into another 12 months of work, play, and whatever else comes down the pike. Many of us have made resolutions for healthier lifestyles, while many others are simply waiting to see what’s on the next page. One thing is for certain – the following four fitness life hacks will help you put the right foot forward in the new year.

1. Break out that 2022 calendar. Did you get a themed calendar for the holidays? Pick one up at that amazing mall kiosk in December? Now’s the time to use it. Consistency is the key with almost everything – and especially fitness. It doesn’t take long for our schedules to get packed and bogged down by activities, responsibilities, and engagements. So, strategize. Making exercise a regular, reliable part of your routine ensures that you stick to your guns and your goals. And never underestimate the power of HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training). These short bursts of intense cardio, separated by brief recovery periods, can be applied to bodyweight exercises, cycling, sprints, and more – and have been shown to produce similar benefits to moderate exercise at half the pace.
2. Create several small, incremental goals: A lot of us tend to think long-term when it comes to our New Year’s mission statements. That’s asking a lot of the next 360 some odd days though, isn’t it? Instead of going big with your goals – or in addition to them – consider mapping out a series of small, manageable targets to hit month to month. For instance, don’t think of weight loss in double digits, but in a handful of pounds to be shed incrementally.
3. Get a selfie stick: No, really. Keeping track of the numbers is critical, don’t get us wrong. But charting your achievements visually is a great motivator to keep doing great work. Are you a Social Media devotee? Consider sharing your weight loss and/or muscle-building progress with your followers and watch your cheering section grow.
4. Find the perfect collaborator: There’s a reason so many people buddy up when exercise is on the table. Not only does constructive feedback do wonders to improve our form, but the mere presence of another body also helps to keep us accountable. Accountability partners can be friends or family, of course, but finding a certified personal trainer is ideal. Their knowledge and expertise are unparalleled and agreeing to a set time, schedule, and payment for them to share it with us means that we will more likely put in the effort and the face time to make a difference.

The trainers at Fitness Together Ellicott City want you to have a healthy, happy, and fit New Year. We can help you put these four fitness life hacks in motion. An initial complimentary evaluation gives us an overview of your abilities, health history, and goals, allowing us to create a customized program that will see you through 2022 and beyond. Contact us today to schedule your first visit.