50+ Lifestyles

New Year’s Fitness Resolutions: Here’s Why Yours Failed

By Logan Anderson, BA, CPT, CIFT
Owner of All Strong Fitness LLC

How’s your new year’s resolution going? If you’re anything like most individuals, you probably picked at least one health related goal to stick to. And like most people, you probably have already started to falter on it. If this is the case for you, I hope to give you something to consider that will hopefully kickstart your resolution that is teetering on its last leg.

To be completely honest, there could be numerous reasons that someone might be struggling to keep up on their health routine, both in the new years, and beyond. Despite this, looking at one crucial aspect of goal setting can change your mindset, motivation, and results on whatever you are currently working on.
If I asked you “what’s the reason you are trying to be fit,” would you have a clear answer for me? Not just a clear answer, but a very specific answer? To lose weight, to look better, the list goes on. These are extremely vague and won’t cut it. To truly stay motivated and create fitness goals that will help drive you even when you don’t feel like it, you need to find your why. Instead of just losing weight as your “why,” you might have decided to lose weight because your spouse just died of obesity related complications. Instead of just “looking better,” you want to look better, because you have never felt comfortable in your clothes and have always
wanted to go from XL to L. THESE are powerful motivators. They go beyond the superficial results that most people strive for in fitness, and also play on what you are emotionally
feeling.

By being ultra specific on your reasoning for starting a fitness routine, you will find motivation to keep going, even on days that are dull. Personally, I started working out and getting into fitness, simply because of my family reunions. You’re probably thinking “Logan, what the heck does that mean?” Well, when I went to my family reunions, I noticed that quite a few of the members there were extremely overweight, always complained about their health ailments, and struggled with complications due to neglecting their health. My “why” stemmed from the fact that I really did not want to live like these other members of my family, and instead do what I could to make a lasting change for my life.

So when conquering the rest of the year, I challenge you to consider what your fitness “why” is. Make it specific, personal, and attached to your emotion. Doing this will keep your fitness resolution intact and ready to be added to your daily habits forever.

Logan Anderson is the owner of All Strong Fitness LLC. For more information, please visit allstrongfitness.org or reach out to allstrongfitnessllc@gmail.com.