The New Year is coming in hot! Do you know what that means? Everyone is ready to start 2018 with a clean slate.  Fitness is typically at the top of everyone’s New Years Resolutions.  Even though I have a pretty strict gym routine — I know how hard it can be to get back into the gym or becoming active again.  Sometimes when I take just a few days off for a vacation, I can feel the struggle of getting back into a routine.  So, here are my 10 Tips to Achieve Your 2018 Fitness Goals! Kick the New Year off right!

1. Plan: Staying healthy is already hard enough — make it easier on yourself by planning your meals and your workouts.  This will help you stay on track!
2. Consistency: You aren’t going to see results right away.  This takes time, patience, and consistency.  If you aren’t feeling up to going to the gym one day, try being active in other ways, i.e. going for a scenic run, walking the dogs, etc.
3. Be Realistic: You aren’t going to get rock hard abs in a few weeks.  Small daily changes compound over time to create results.  Unrealistic goals is just setting yourself up for failure.  Try journaling a few small goals for every week! For example, meal prep this week + gym 3 times.
4. Eat Clean:  Try to stay away from processed foods.  You can meal prep pretty much everything — breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.  Choose lean meats, complex carbs, and fibrous veggies. You can’t out-train a bad diet.  Check out my Nutrition101 post over here!
5. Stay off the Scale: Cut ties with the scale.  Weighing yourself every so often can be healthy and a way to track your goals, but at the end of the day, what matters is how your feel.  Also, remember that muscle weighs more than fat. Progress pics are a much better indicator!
6. 8 Hours of Sleep: Your muscle needs rest to recover, and your body needs energy to perform.
7. Lifestyle: Think of this as a lifestyle, not a diet.  Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.
8. Properly Supplement Your Body: You can get most things through a healthy diet, but if you are increasing the intensity of your training, you may want to consider supplementation.  Check out my supplements post over here!
9. Train with a Friend: J and I rely on each other for motivation on the days we don’t feel like working out.  Set goals with your friend for accountability! Even if you can’t work out together, motivate one another!
10. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Stepping out of your comfort zone is a must if you want to see results.  The body can do so much more than the mind tells it! Don’t be afraid to break down a mental wall and venture into unchartered territory. Remember, be safe and track your heart rate! I love my Polar M430 watch!