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Fading February? How to focus on your fitness goals

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Struggling to keep up with your fitness goals as the harsh realities of winter begin to bite? Our Sports Ambassador, Karen Arney, shares her advice with you below. Don’t forget to check out what she has written already as part of her ongoing blog.

So, we are into the second month of the year and your new year resolution fitness goals are already coming under strain! Are those good intentions of gym classes before work and double dog walks at the weekend not quite working out?? Is work once again creeping back into pole position with additional meetings being squeezed in at lunchtime and that barrage of emails simply having to be dealt with once you get home?

Sounding familiar? Don’t panic! Check out my top tips to turn Fading February into the month for Feeling Fabulous.

Graphic with musical notes - time to face the music and meet your fitness goals.1. Face the music

What were original aims and how far are you from meeting them? Is it possible to attend gym classes or should you consider an alternative way to meet your exercise needs? Just how far from your original target are you?

2. Focus on Fitness

Is it weight loss or increasing exercise that is your priority?

Have you considered walking or cycling to work instead of driving? Could you park further away from the office or get off the bus a stop earlier and walk the last stretch instead?

Graphic with a woman doing stretches and a person with a swimming cap and googles half submerged in water, representing swimming. Both are meeting their fitness goals.

Could your lunch break accommodate a walk outside rather than a sandwich at your desk?

Instead of going to the gym check out the many classes that are available on YouTube. Many of these can be accessed for free and completed in your own home, in your own time. Many general workouts require no equipment other than a reasonable pair of trainers and a bottle of water.

Why not consider using an app to help you make progress? Monitor your daily steps or join something like couch to 5k. Follow a fitness guru online or consider using social media to connect with others and look for fitness ideas.

Make a list of ways to achieve a short bout of exercise 3-5 times a week and see how inventive you can be.

Graphic with the faces of two people with a landline phone each to their ears and a speech bubble next to each of them. They're talking about reaching their fitness goals this month.3. Phone a friend

A problem halved is a problem shared. Why not check out what your friends or colleagues are doing to keep healthy this month? Invite a friend out for a walk, go to a gym class together after work or even do a home workout together. You’re much more likely to squeeze in some exercise if you make a date and time to do it!

For those of you with kids, look at family friendly activities at the weekend, does the local swimming pool have a family fun time?  Could you go for a walk or run whilst the football/netball warm up is going on rather than sit in the car catching up with emails?

A graphic of a calendar, with three boxes (or days) ticked off. There's also a small image of a clock with the hands at 3 o'clock - time to meet your fitness goals.4. Find a fixture to aim for

If walking or running is your preferred fitness, why not look for a local event that will challenge you? Sign up and reset your goals to meet the deadline. Consider a charity event which, by requiring sponsorship, will give you a great chance to share your goals with friends and family. By signing on the dotted line, you are much more likely to achieve your aim. Why not consider one of ABC’s walking events such as the Breast Walk Ever?

5. Finally, remember:

Fitness is about helping you be the best person you can be. It’s not about competing with others but making and maintaining your goals for life.

Wellness word cloud - inspiration you helping you meet your fitness goals

Refocus on your fitness goals. Find an exercise plan which you enjoy and is manageable with work and family commitments. Set yourself one specific goal to aim for and commit to achieving it by a certain date.

Forget Fading February, let’s go for feeling fabulous.