Succeed At Your Health and Fitness Goals in 2014!

The secret to a Successful New Years Resolutions is to first choose an attainable goal that will work for you. Choosing to make a fitness resolution year after year that you may have been unsuccessful at in the past only sets you up for frustration and failure.

The average success rate for New Years resolutions is a just 20 percent but do not let that discourage you, there are ways to assure that you will be in that 20 percent category. Here are a few suggestions to get you on your way to your own personal success and how to enjoy exercise and a healthier lifestyle.

First of all, fitness and a healthy lifestyle need to be a part of your everyday life and you need to give yourself a break and realize that results take time and a lot of effort on your part, most experts agree that it takes about 21 days to create a habit and six months for it to actually become part of your everyday life and you need to mentally prepare yourself and get motivated for your fitness success.

Most people focus on the SCALE and the number that they see for their weight, I consider this to be one of your "BAD" habits and it should be the "FIRST" resolution that you make and keep :) Watching the scale will make you lose focus on your goal because you are too focused on what you consider negative, which is your weight and the number on the scale. Remember muscle weighs more than fat and weight training increases bone density, muscle mass and strength while burning fat!

My advice to people who really want to achieve their fitness goals for 2014 is to start training now. Don't wait until January when you already have overdone all the extra food, holiday cheer and parties that come with the holiday season. That will only leave you feeling bad about your weight and excess calories, which can set you up to fail.

The 20 percent who succeed start slow and gradually, making the necessary adjustments that it takes to succeed with their fitness goals over time. Enjoy the holidays, your family and friends and begin your exercise program now by exercising as you go through the season’s festivities, it will help burn those extra calories and even reduce the stress of all the extra responsibilities that come with the holiday planning of the season and it has the added benefit of increasing your energy too!

When 2014 is here you will be ready for the NEXT level of your fitness goal! Happy Holidays everyone!

For more Health and Fitness tips go to www.fithealthyandfabulous.com


© Copyright 2013 Gina Mastrogiovanni 

Get Fit, Stay Motivated and Have Fun with your Friends

Some of us need a little extra motivation and support to get our workouts done and most of us find it challenging to find the time for everything that we need to do in a week, with work, kids and all the things that need to fit into our busy schedules everyday. Today's lifestyles are fast paced and can be unhealthy due to the fast pace, stress and rushing around all the time, making it even more important to take the time to stay physically fit and emotionally healthy!

You can make fitness and getting healthy a group activity amongst your friends, the price of a private session with a certified personal trainer may not be affordable to everyone but it can be if you get a group of friends together for a small group private training session. It is a great way to spend time with your friends and get your workouts in a few times a week; you are also more likely to stay on track because the members of your group will encourage and motivate each other to work harder to get fit and reach each other’s goals.  Working out in a small group provides support and accountability in a structured environment. It also has a high success rate because people do not want to let their friends down which is a great way to adhere to an exercise program. This type of training also gets you the individual attention that you would get with a private personal trainer at a fraction of the cost. I never train more than four people in my small group sessions, this way I can provide the extra time and attention for each person in the group to help them reach their personal fitness goals. They can have fun with their friends while I keep watch on their form throughout the training session. Too large of a group is not recommended for this type of fitness training because your personal trainer should watch your form and keep you focused to avoid injuries.

So what are you waiting for? If you have been procrastininating about where and when to start, dislike working out at a crowded commercial gym or have hit a plateau in your current fitness program, this is the type of workout for you. There is no excuse, call up a few friends, and find a personal trainer, but remember always work with a educated trainer with a top certification in their field such as National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA) The American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) to name a few. Best of luck and success with your fitness goals. 

For more Health and Fitness tips go to www.fithealthyandfabulous.com

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the personal care of a doctor. Please remember to always consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new fitness program.