Tips to Help You Maintain and Reach Your Fitness Goals in 2020

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bomber jacket // top // leggings // athletic shoes

It’s a new year and if you are like the majority of everyone out there, then you’re 2020 goals/resolutions most likely have something to do with health and fitness. In the past few years, I have been really against resolutions but something about this new year really has me yearning for a fresh start.

If you are new to the blog, when I was 16, I made a huge lifestyle change and decided to really dedicate my life to health and fitness. I lost over 25lbs and while I’ve had ups and downs, I have been able to maintain my weight loss and lifestyle ever since. So while I am not a registered dietician or personal trainer, below are tips and tricks that I have stuck too, have really helped me and I hope they can help you too.

Even though it’s a new year – if you haven’t read it before or are a true beginner, I highly recommend checking out this post first!!! Beginner’s Fitness Tips for Getting into Shape

My Personal Fitness and Health Goals

Clean up my diet: While I always try to make the “healthier” choices… I feel like I lived/indulged a little bit too much this year! Not that ‘living’ is a bad thing… but I have found my energy levels being lower than usual and my motivation not being quite there… so that’s usually an indication for me that it has gone too far! So I am looking to cut back on carbs a little bit (aka eating all of Colton’s french fries) and incorporating more vegetables. Less alcohol and more water. Etc. Etc.

Walk 10,000 steps a day: When I was making the effort to hit my steps every day, I was in the best shape of my life. It’s something so simple like walking every day that makes such a huge impact. For tips on how to hit your steps, check out this post!

More Pilates and Yoga: A major goal for this year!! I am feeling a little burnt out on traditional weight training and would love to see what would happen if I really dedicated time to more yoga and pilates.

Morning Workouts: I mentioned this goal in this post! Morning workouts are definitely easier said than done, but I have found that the earlier I get my workouts in, the less likely I am to not work out at the end of the day. I start my day off on the right track, tend to make better decisions throughout my day and all-around feel better!

Tips for Beginners

Put Together a Game Plan

Instead of just signing up for a gym membership and showing up clueless, be sure to do your research and figure out what your goals are before hand.

Sign up for a gym that’s not exactly “Popular”:

When I first started working out, I went to a very small and practically empty gym near my home. By doing this, I didn’t feel judged, nor did I ever feel intimidated. I was able to work out, learn my way around the weight room and get into a routine without feeling self-conscious. I really think that if I would have signed up at a fancy/popular gym right off the bat, I probably would have gotten discouraged and not have gone back. Choosing this gym was one of the best decisions I could have made.

Download the My Fitness Pal App

Guys, this is one of the greatest apps in the world. I have been using it for many years and it really helps with tracking what you are eating. It’s kind of like a food diary, but better! It’s also a huge wakeup call as to how much you are eating in a day, as compared to how much you should actually be eating in a day.

Don’t Be Afraid To Do It By Yourself

I know this completely opposite of almost everything you have ever read (most articles suggest grabbing a buddy to hold you accountable!) but as someone who has made the lifestyle change first hand, this is the most important tip of them all. This is a change that you have to want to make for yourself. Nobody else can do it for you. I think the reason I am against the buddy system, is because your buddy may not want it as bad as you do. You do not want to start relying on a friend to go to the gym with you, because when they stop going, you will most likely stop going as well.

Understand That It Won’t Happen Over Night

Please, please do not get discouraged when you do not see immediate results! These things take time… but if you stick with it, you’ll see the results you’re looking for. These things take time.

Tips and Tricks I Live By

Never miss a Monday workout. I know never is a strong word, so maybe I should say, “really try” to never miss a Monday workout. It really does set the tone for your whole week!

Don’t go more than two days without working out. Life happens, we travel, things come up and sometimes there is no way you can make it to the gym and that’s okay! My personal rule of thumb though is to never go two-days without making time for a sweat session. It keeps me on track and holds me reliable without being too strict.

Start Your Morning w/ Lemon Water: Before breakfast or your daily cup of joe, try drinking a big glass of lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Not only will this hydrate you from the night before but it kickstarts your metabolism and set the tone for the day. For extra nutrition, try adding a little cayenne or apple cider vinegar to it!

Schedule Your Workouts: At the beginning of every week, look at what you have going on and schedule in each day when you can make time to work out. Then on each day write down the time and exactly what you will do for your workout. Whether it be weight lifting, spin class or pilates. Penciling it in makes more of a commitment and lets you go in with a plan.

Something is Better than Nothing: Do Only have 20 minutes?? Or maybe you’re exhausted and can only fathom a brisk walk!? Remember that something is better than nothing and that little something you’re doing counts.

Don’t Stop the Moment You “Fail”: Was your goal to workout 5x a week and now that we’re 14 days into the new year and you’ve only made it to the gym once? Don’t give up! You have not failed. Your goals and resolution are ongoing.

BLT’S Count! If diet and nutrition is your focus for the new year, remember that BLT’S – aka – Bites, Licks, and Tastes matter. So whether you’re counting your calories or trying out Keto, remember that all Bites, Licks, and Tastes still go into your body and should be accounted for.

Pick One of the Three “Evils”: A tip I picked up when reading a Blake Lively Interview! When eating out, you want to enjoy yourself but choose carefully what is worth it and what is not. If you have the option between having either alcohol, bread or dessert – only pick one!

Listen to your body: Listening to your body is huge. If you are sick and can’t make your normal workout, try a light walk instead and focus on stretching instead. If your super sore from the day before, instead of running, try a yoga class. It is all about listening to your body and where your body will perform best.

Learn to be self-forgiving: So you ate a piece of that cake or you didn’t immediately hit your goal weight within the first week…so what! Once you learn to love yourself and your body, your whole transformation will become much easier and more enjoyable. If you do have a cupcake, don’t beat yourself up about it. Just be sure for your next meal, pick a healthier choice or activity to do afterward.

Favorite Workout Gear

Fitness and Health Apps I Love

Whether you are looking for workouts you can do at home, you’re not a huge fan of working out in group classes or you need guidance/help getting into weight training, I love all of the apps below!

Sweat App

The fitness app by Kayla Itsines! I started doing her original BBG Program back in 2015 and when she launched this app it was a game-changer! Not only does it offer her original BBG Program, but it also has a program for weight lifting, yoga and pregnancy as well!

My Fitness Pal

I’ve used this app for over 7 years and it’s still my favorite for tracking my food. Put in your information and it will help you calculate exactly what and how much you should be eating every day to reach your goals.

Openfit

I just recently downloaded this app and have been loving it so far! From treadmill workouts to pilates (my favorite), weight lifting and more, they really offer a ton of options!

FitPlan App

Linn Lowes Plan is my absolute favorite! I love following her on Instagram and that not only does she share her workouts but she focuses on showing proper technique. She offers step-by-step weight training workouts through the Fit Plan app, has videos for each and really walks you through each one!

Houston Gyms and Studios I Love

Equinox

I love Equinox because it offers everything I need in one place! Great classes, amazing free weight section, endless cardio equipment, gorgeous locker rooms, it’s never overcrowded and is only a mile away from me! Read more about it here!

RYDE Indoor Cycling

This has been my favorite cycling studio since 2016 when they opened and they are hands down the best in Houston. They have one location in River Oaks and the other Downtown. I have tried every studio in the city, including Soul Cycle and studios across the country and no other studios compare.

Revolution Studio

Revolution has multiple studios around the city and offers both cycling and pilates!

Define Studios

I just love Define Studios and all of their unique classes across the city. They offer cycling, pilates, yoga, and even trampoline cardio classes!

Method Pilates

If you are looking for a reformer pilates studio, then I highly recommend Method Pilates in both West U and Montrose.

xo,

Lauren

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