How To Plan Short-Term Fitness Goals For New Year

how to plan short term fitness goals new year

Time flies but the new year is here in full force, and if you haven't already it’s time for you to start thinking about your fitness goals! The smartest way to attain great results is to set short-term goals. This means creating baby-steps and eventually leading up to a bigger accomplishment. Not only does this keep the pressure down, but it gives you more energy, time and motivation to carry on! Just to be clear, always consult with a medical expert before starting a new diet or exercise plan. 

Here are some short-term goals for you to consider to help you reach or reevaluate those New Year fitness resolution. 

Be Gradual & Steady For Losing Weight 

Short-term fitness goals are excellent for helping you lose weight, whether you just to be healthier or if it’s a specific occasion. Being gradual and setting yourself the target of losing one to two pounds a week keeps you motivated and feeling physically able to continue for a longer period of time. When deciding on how much weight you want to lose and for how long you want to do this for, be sensible and practical. For your food intake, begin by replacing fatty foods with more healthier substitutes and cutting down on meal sizes. 

Determine If You Want To Gain Muscle Or Increase Stamina 

Before jumping onto the arm and leg machines, consider what your current stamina level is and how much weight you can actually lift. If you lift too much, you will probably injure yourself which means it’s less likely for you to achieve your goals. The same goes for stamina; you need to be realistic with yourself. If you consider yourself to be an inactive person, don’t expect to run on the treadmill for 30 minutes straight without feeling drained. Being considerate of how much exercise you can handle will not only be better for your physical state but will keep your motivation high too. 

There is tons more fitness advice online with tips to get fit fast and how to steadily increase your exercise regime. For example, MayoClinic advises you start a short-term cardio goal with 10 minutes of walking, 3 days a week. 

If Your Goals Are Specific, Plan It Out Accordingly 

Depending on why or what you want to get fit for, prioritise your goals by using a physical diary, checklist or online app (whatever works best for you). Work out how much time you will have available during this year and plan around your responsibilities. If your wish is to get a more toned middle, plan a short-term goal of doing 100 sit-ups per week. You may have considered signing up for the next marathon to raise money towards a specific charity. If this is your desire, start off slowly by jogging on a weekly basis, then gradually increase the amount of time. 

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

It's easy for any of us to grow complacent with our workouts and they'll start being a little less effective. For the sake of your physical fitness and quality of life it's advisable to try new things. Go skiing, learn to skate, volunteer to coach a youth sports team, go camping, hike a mountain... or at least try that new exercise class you've been thinking about. Even small changes can add up to big results. And you never know when you might try something new that becomes the new cornerstone of your health and fitness program.

Conclusion

You just need to keep one thing in mind, achieving your fitness goals won’t happen overnight and will likely take at least six months. Don’t be too hard on yourself and be careful; you’re not a machine! Hopefully, after reading this, you have a better idea on how to set your goals.


I hope you enjoyed this article about how to plan short term fitness goals to help you get the results you desire this year.

Interested in more articles about getting fit on a budget? 

Read My Posts:

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Stay Frugal & Fit My Friends!

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