6 easy steps for staying on track

Summer is almost upon us Flashpointers! Most people end up breaking their new years goal of getting in shape by Febuary. This is your year to stick to your goals! Here's a couple helpful tips to make sure you stay on track all the way to the finish line.

1. Plan, Plan, Plan
You plan meetings and school functions, workouts are no different. Set one day aside every week to write out exactly what you will be doing for cardio and weights and what time you will be working out every day. This way you can mentally prepare yourself for the workout.

2. Track
If you don't know where you started, you'll have no idea if you've progressed in your workouts. Track everything you do in your workouts, from the weights you used, to how many reps you did and what incline your tradmill was at. This way, you can look back and see where you have improved at. Also, makle sure you are taking measurments every three weeks to give yourself a good idea if your workouts are giving you the results you want.

3. Goals
Rememeber to set goals along your journey. Most people set goals to far out and become frustrated because their not getting there fast enough. If your goal is to lose 100 lbs, it seems unacheivable, but if you break it down it goes by alot quicker. So this week your goal is to lose 4 lbs. But if you don't achieve it, dont view it as a setback and throw it all away on a all night icecream binge. Some weeks will be 2lbs and some will be 4lbs. But in the end its how much body fat your losing not the weight. So remember to keep track of how your clothers are fitting. Thats one of the best indicators that your workout goals are still on track.

4. Fuel your Body
The biggest killer of almost any fitness related goal is your diet. If your gonna to kill yourself with hours at the gym, don't go home and down a whole box of twinkies. Throw out all the crap in your kitchen thats packaged and sugar filled and you'll be amazed at how quickly your energy levels will rise and the body fat will start dropping.

5. Switch it up
If your workout routine is boring you or youve stopped seeing results, remember to add some variety. You have to challenge your body to continually see results and the longer you've been working out, the harder you'll have to push yourself. Beginners usually see results extremely quickly but become frustrated after a few months when weight loss results begin to slow. To avoid a plateau, keep pushing yourself. Up the weights you are using, change up how many reps you are doing, do intervals on the treadmill instead of 30 min at the same speed. Even better, take your workouts outside and get a change of scenery. Hiking burns about 500 cal an hour, throw in some random pushups along the trail and youll have a complete workout!

6. Have fun and treat yourself
Getting in shape is not always enjoyable, but finding things that you do enjoy makes it easier. Go for bike rides, do body weight exercises, take a poolates class. There isnt just one way to get in shape, its finding something that works for you and sticking with it. And when you do get the results you want, remember to reward yourself with something. New clothes, a trip, something that says you worked hard to get where you are! Just rememeber not to settle. You'll come across alot of obstacles along the way, and alot of haters who wont want you to succeed. But you deserve to lead a healthier lifestyle and the only one that can prevent you from getting there is yourself!

-AY