In this new year, many people set exercise goals for themselves to start the year right. If you have ever tried to stick to a new year’s resolution, you may know that it can be difficult to maintain your new habits as the months go by. We spoke with Pete Stamos, a trainer at One to One Fitness about how to set good goals that you will be able to achieve and how to establish a fitness routine that you can maintain.
What are some of the most common setbacks you find with your clients who are trying to maintain a fitness routine in the new year?
In general, dealing with clients who are trying to establish or maintain a fitness routine in the new year the biggest setback I see is lack of patience with the process. Joining a gym or establishing a new routine is a lifestyle choice or change that requires a long term outlook. If a client decides to join a gym and believes that all of their goals will be met in a few months they are probably going to be disappointed. Setting expectations that are realistic is paramount to the success of any client trying to maintain a fitness routine regardless of the time of year.
Do you have any tips for people who are making fitness goals for their new year’s resolution?
The biggest tip that I can give any client that is making fitness goals for the new year is to create a bigger picture to the goals you set. If your goal is simply to get in better shape ask yourself why you’re trying to get in better shape. Having a why in your goal setting most times will give you your true goal that you want to accomplish.
What advice would you give to someone who is new to exercise and who wants to start making it a regular part of their life?
Meet with a personal trainer or movement professional that can help institute a workout program that can set the table for future success. The last thing that a person wants to do when exercising is to get hurt. Being injured usually leads to time away from exercise and in turn not reaching their fitness goals. Having someone with expertise in the field of exercise can help establish quality movement patterns that can help decrease the potential for injury.
What advice do you have for someone who made a resolution but by March is having trouble sticking to it?
Having big end game goals are great, but also having incremental goals to keep the client on task is very important. If you have one goal and that goal is not met by a period of time is it very easy to get discouraged. Having smaller more attainable goals keeps the client motivated while the bigger goal is still trying to be achieved.
How can exercising with a trainer help with new year’s resolutions?
Encouraging a client, creating goal focused workout routines, or providing guidance with nutritional behaviors are just a few examples of how a personal trainer can help with a new year’s resolution. In my opinion, the most important thing that a personal trainer does is create accountability. Over the years the quote that I have heard the most when asking why a client chose to train with a personal trainer is “I wanted to be accountable to someone.” Clients feel that if they have an appointment, and there is someone else waiting for them, that their more determined to get to the gym. That being said, it is the personal trainers objective is to create an environment that the client feels the need to show up.
