As the new year rapidly approaches, gyms are poised to become bustling hubs as many individuals embark on a "new year, new me" journey. Ambitious goals will be established, with the hopeful belief that the transition to a new year will flip a switch and suddenly we will achieve the goal we have been chasing for so long.
With over two decades of experience here at Vision, we've seen countless fitness journeys unfold. Now, consider this: How many times have you embarked on a new fitness and health journey at the start of a new year? Were you able to maintain your habits and see lasting results? If the likely answer is no, we're here to assist you in changing that.
Here are our five top tips to set, achieve and maintain your new years resolution.
1. Set Clear Goals
If you don't have a clear end picture or goal in sight, how do you know what you are working towards or if you are on track? It is very hard to see progress if you don't know where you want to go and by when. Your new years resolution goals need to be specific, realistic and detailed. Instead of "I want to lose weight" get specific on how much weight, by when. It is also important to have a secondary goal in place for when you achieve this initial goal.
2. Have a Clear Plan in Place
A goal without a plan is just a dream. Now that you've identified what you want to achieve and when you want to achieve it, it's time for the crucial step: how are you going to get there? Here at Vision, our coaches take care of this. We don't just assist with setting goals and timelines; we provide you with a detailed plan outlining what needs to happen on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to get you to where you want to be and hold you accountable to this. From training and nutrition to mindset and education, we take care of every aspect to ensure your plan is suitable to your lifestyle and preferences.
3. Say NO to Fad Diets
Fad diets, characterised by strict and often dangerous rules, such as no carbs, no eating after dark, intermittent fasting, keto, and more, are not only unsustainable but can also have detrimental long-term health effects. Rapid weight loss from these diets often stems from the loss of water and muscle tissue rather than true fat loss. While the scales may show a decrease in weight, it doesn't equate to sustainable fat loss. This rapid weight loss can negatively impact your metabolism, causing it to adjust to the lower calorie intake. Once you return to a more regular eating pattern, the lost weight tends to return quickly, plus more. Opting for a nutrition plan that aligns with your lifestyle, is enjoyable, and sustainable is the key to achieving and maintaining results over the long term.
4. Accountability
At Vision we have created a system that allows us to have absolute clarity around what needs to be done daily and weekly to get you where you want to be. The Weekly Report is a summary of all your actions and habits you mapped out in your first planning session. You will have a weekly discussion with your Coach to ensure you’re ticking all the boxes and coming up with better strategies if you’re falling short in any area. This weekly progress update allows you to stay motivated, on track and keeps the bigger picture more realistic to achieve as we break it down into more manageable chunks.
5. Educate Yourself Around Nutrition
After the initial burst of motivation fades, understanding the reasons behind your actions and being able to make informed decisions on your own becomes crucial. At Vision, we consider it vital to empower and educate our clients about nutrition and lifestyle choices. We provide a variety of tools, including the MyVision app, seminars, shopping tours, ready-set-go book, weekly check ins and ongoing coaching during goal sessions and personal training sessions. By the time our members reach their end goals, they will possess the knowledge and confidence to maintain their weight while fully embracing life.
