How to Maintain Your 2022 Fitness Goals
By Ryan Siss
Part 1: The Importance of Small, Realistic Goals
Last year around this time, we published an article, “Given Up on Your New Year’s Resolution? Reignite with these Local Spots!”, that gave Montclairians some great advice on gyms and businesses that would help them maintain their fitness goals in 2021. As a follow-up to this article, I wanted to get the perspective of fitness professionals that train clients in Montclair (and the surrounding area) to see how they approach helping new and current clients maintain their fitness goals throughout the year.
After all, the beginning of the year is extremely busy for those in this profession. With the start of a new year comes another fresh start, and the all-too-familiar cycle of telling ourselves that we’re going to eat healthy, consume less, and exercise more. While great in theory and usually practice for the first couple or few weeks, this motivation tends to drop off, and we become frustrated and annoyed. It’s a brutal cycle.
In the first part of this two-part series, we’re going to hear from personal trainer Christine Sheridan, a 12-year industry veteran who has multiple certifications including Corrective Exercise, Weight Loss, and TRX Suspension, to name a few. Christine’s goal with clients is to create fun, motivational, and challenging sessions that target their specific goals and needs.
Here’s what Christine has to say about keeping up with your 2022 fitness goals:
Small Dietary Changes Can Have Have a Huge Impact
“The best way to start is to make small realistic goals. In regards to diet, start with one attainable goal. For example, change one meal in your day. If you never really eat a healthy dinner, start by making one minor change to that meal. Soon, that one healthy meal will transfer into another healthy change (maybe your lunch), and eventually, you will see these minor changes add up to big improvements. Goals only work if we can see them in front of us. Give yourself a goal but make it where it is uncomfortably attainable. This means that we must push ourselves just a little; being uncomfortable makes it more rewarding, more of an impact. So, strive for more, in a specific, realistic time.”
Exercise: The More You Do, the More You Can Do
“If you don’t know where to start at the gym, do not feel overwhelmed! Pick one day out of the week and start small, whether it is just walking or going on a bike ride (if you like the cold) or stationary bike! Soon, you will feel that you can do more at the gym. Next, pick something that you enjoy - but remember to give yourself a goal. Tell yourself that, ‘In one week, I’m going to incorporate weights.’
“Incorporating weights safely into your training is important, so hiring a personal trainer is a terrific way to learn how to exercise, and, trust me, we will push you to meet those uncomfortable goals that you have for yourself. It can be a big step in enlisting a personal trainer but don’t feel intimidated. Just like anything else, becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable is how we grow.
“To summarize maintaining your diet and exercise in 2022, you should concentrate on making small, realistic goals - but remember to keep those goals where you must stretch a little to reach them. My motto is the more you do the more you can do!!!”
To learn more about Christine’s personal training experience and philosophy, and how she can help you meet your fitness goals, you can find her on Instagram at @BodiesbyChristine or email her at ChristineSheridan@ymail.com.
