Why do New Years Fitness Resolutions Fail?

So here it is. It’s that time of year. The time of year when people full of good intentions flood into the gym and try to devote themselves to a newer, healthier version of themselves. It’s estimated that a third of all New Year’s resolutions will have something to do with fitness and that between 81% and 92% of all New Year’s resolutions fail. That’s eight out of ten people. Just take a moment to appreciate that. Eight out of ten people will be stuck in the same rut this time next year.

Here are 6 reasons why New Years Fitness Resolutions Fail:

1. You try to change everything at once. You need to pick one thing and do it well. In the world of health and fitness, everything seems to be in extremes. It’s all in, or nothing. But, it simply doesn’t work that way. For successful everyday athletes, they have mastered tiny habits over several years that are now rituals in their day-to-day lives. Going to the gym isn’t a chore to them. It’s ingrained into their daily routine. Eating healthy isn’t difficult. It’s just a normal day of eating to them. It’s a habit.

2. You start with a habit that is too big. It’s great to have big goals. But every goal starts with a single step. This is one of the biggest mistakes fitness novices make. They make big goals but don’t actually know the work and effort it requires to get there. They’ve never taken this journey before. The hardest part of starting a new habit is fixing the behaviour. It takes a lot of motivation to just change one habit, but change more than one? How about fifteen habits at once? It’s nearly impossible.

3. You seek a result not a ritual. Everyone is obsessed with results in fitness. How much you want to deadlift this year? How much weight you want to loose? How much faster you want to run this year? Which is good as you need to see results to keep yourself motivated. But as James Clear states, “Here’s the problem: new goals don’t deliver new results. New lifestyles do. And a lifestyle is not an outcome. It is a process. For this reason, all of your energy should go into building better rituals, not chasing better results.”

4. You don't change your environment. It is virtually impossible to change habits in a negative environment. Habits are a response to the environment we put ourselves in. We are responsible for the environment around us, the people we surround ourselves with, and the food we buy and store in the cupboards.

5. You assume that small changes don't add up. Everyone loves to chase big goals, particularly when it comes to weight loss. I want to lose 40 lbs this year. I want to lose 20% body fat before the summer, and so on. As a result, they assume that in order to do that, they have to do something big, something exceptional, like workout 60 minutes a day, EVERY DAY. But the habits you have today, good or bad, are the sum of small incremental changes over time. Getting 1% better every day adds up over time. Research has shown that if you’re serious about creating new habits, you need to start small. Start with a habit that’s so easy, you can easily stick to it.

6. They don't actually know there current level of fitness. We see this time and time again, from experienced everyday athletes to novices. People love to guess where they are in the game of fitness. Staring back at yourself in the mirror can be tough. But until you know the score, you can’t play the game. When it comes to January and making an exercise resolution, most people have no idea where they are in terms of their current level of fitness. They automatically choose a workout from a popular magazine and go from there, or worse, they just make it up as they go along.

At Authentic Health, Fitness & Wellbeing we can actually help you stick to your exercise routine and prevent you from going another year without achieving your fitness goals.

Authentic Health, Fitness & Wellbeing is all about convenience and fitting in with your schedule! You can train from home, virtually or from a convenient location! Whatever is the best fit for you! Our app also makes tracking your sessions and progress a breeze! Install it today to view our personal trainers and get started on an exciting new fitness journey. All our personal trainers are highly qualified and have been verified to ensure they are reputable, knowledgeable and of the highest standard. They will fit in with your and deliver dynamic, varied and enjoyable workouts!

Whenever you are ready, our Personal Trainers and Nutritionist's are here waiting to support you!

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