How Effective Are New Year’s Exercise Resolutions?

Did you know that more than 70% of Australians set a New Year’s Resolution at the beginning of a new year? Exercise resolutions are among the most common, with almost 30% of resolutions related to fitness goals, and 28% focused on weight loss.

But despite the popularity of New Year’s resolutions, research has found that just 8% of people manage to achieve their New Year’s goals, and January 12th is the most common date that people break their resolutions.

But it is possible to set realistic fitness goals and stick with your resolution for more than two weeks by following three simple rules.

Be Realistic

One of the reasons why so many people fail to achieve their resolutions is that they are not realistic, or they underestimate how long they will take to be achieved.

Setting unrealistic goals sets you up for failure from the very beginning. In contrast, setting realistic goals increases your chance of success.

If you are a long way from your goal, you also might like to try breaking it down into several mini goals.

Smaller goals feel like they are more easily within reach, and the sense of achievement you feel as you reach each milestone will keep you motivated as you work towards the next one.

Be Consistent

It is incredibly common for people to throw themselves into a new fitness regime, go hard for a week or two, find it difficult to maintain that level of intensity, skip a workout or two, and then give up completely.

The more sustainable approach is to start slowly and gradually increase the intensity of your workouts.

Consistency is also more important than frequency, so working out three times a week for two months will get you closer to your goals than working out every day for a month, then taking a break for a month because you have burned yourself out.

You may still fall off the wagon occasionally, but the important thing is to recognise your progress, keep looking forward, and get back on track.

BeFit Hire has been operating for more than 50 years and we pride ourselves on offering the highest standard of service to every customer.

With a comprehensive range of home fitness equipment including treadmills, manual and programmable cross-trainers, upright and recumbent exercise bikes, and rowing machines, BeFit Hire offers the convenience of exercising on quality fitness equipment in your own home.

BeFit Hire and our Independent Agents service Adelaide and Melbourne and would be delighted to provide advice on the best equipment to suit your individual needs, so please get in touch today.

Photos from Shutter Stock