Welcome to another episode of the Silver Edge Fitness podcast! In today’s Coaches Corner episode, I shared my tips for setting impactful and achievable health-related New Year’s resolutions.
I started out by reflecting on my own past failed resolutions, admitting I’ve made some pretty audacious ones over the years that were destined to fail. I know many can relate to starting off the new year highly motivated to finally get in shape or eat healthier, only to fall back into old habits by February.
I then dove into reasons why resolutions often fail – they’re too ambitious, we’re not mentally ready to change, we don’t understand our underlying motivations, we lack a solid plan and accountability system. I also discussed some deeper psychological barriers from making positive change, like believing we’re undeserving or fearing failure.
Next, I explained the SMART goal framework to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goals. I encouraged listeners to make resolutions focused on smaller, incremental changes over a shorter timeframe rather than huge, intimidating year-long goals.
When it comes to nutrition resolutions targeting weight or fat loss, I urged rethinking the fixation on hitting a certain number on the scale. Instead, I advised focusing on metrics like body fat percentage or lean muscle gain. I suggested resolutions around increasing protein intake, entering a “metabolic restoration” phase before starting a diet, and establishing healthier eating habits like mindful eating, meal prepping, staying hydrated, and not snacking after dinner.
On the exercise front, I recommended a simple regimen of full-body strength training 3 days a week and starting with a daily step goal based on your current baseline activity. I emphasized keeping things sustainable rather than intense cardio blasts or bootcamp workouts.
I wrapped up the show by stressing mindset and motivation as key to long-term success. While motivation helps kick things off, it fades quickly. By focusing on becoming the type of person who relishes healthy behaviors and listening to your “why”, you’re much more likely to stick with resolutions. I also encouraged being compassionate with ourselves – progress isn’t linear and setbacks will happen. The most important thing is getting back on track.
I’m excited for you to put these tips into action in the new year! Be sure to check out the resources below for guides to help with your fitness journey.
Want to rewrite the narrative of your life and health? Visit the link below to see if our 1:1 coaching services are a perfect fit for your long term goals:
https://calendly.com/thesilveredge/coaching-inquiry
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