Now these may or may not apply to everyone but if you are new to the gym or never really had much success there, here are 3 Ways to be more successful in the new year.
1. Don't over commit. As the old saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day." This could not be more true when it comes to hitting your fitness goals. You are much better off starting moderately with 3 to 4 days in the gym as opposed to over-committing to 6 to 7 days. Overdoing it in your first two weeks can make you feel burnt out or discouraged if you can not keep up the aggressive schedule. Plan your workout schedule at the beginning of the week and choose the days you will work out and stick to them. I find people tend to be more successful if they actually schedule their workouts into their days as opposed to just trying to wing it. Start with 3 to 4 days and schedule them out as appointments with yourself.
2. Invest in a professional. If you are not sure what to do at the gym, consult with or hire a professional to help you get started. It does not have to be long term but I can not stress enough how important it is to start off a fitness routine with some guidance. A goal without a plan is just a wish. If you can fit it in the budget, even the knowledge gained after a few sessions will go a long way. It is not effective to just hop on and off random strength machines and expect to get any real results because you will not have the progression and overload piece that are crucial for positive change.
3. Set small goals and then smash them. Regardless of your overall goal, no matter how big it may be, there are much smaller accomplishments before you get there. Focus on those. The momentum of achieving each of those will continue to propel you forward. For example, if you have 40 pounds to lose, think of focusing on increments of 6 to 8lbs per month, which is about 1.5-2 lbs per week. This will keep you on track and will also help keep a positive mind set. Keeping a positive mindset is imperative! From my experience, those who think they can and will, do! It all begins with the right mindset.