4 Ways to Make Your Fitness Resolutions Work For You

Fitness goals are a huge part of New Year’s resolutions but there are some that you should never make! Miraval’s visiting specialist, Dr. Jordan Metzl shares four fitness don’ts to stay away from to make your workout resolutions work for you this year!

NEVER set goals outside of your normal comfort zone

I always tell my patients to set a goal that scares them, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t make a gradual build. If you’ve never run before, set a goal that is a 5k instead of jumping right into that marathon. Each milestone is an achievement!

NEVER give up sweets cold turkey

I believe in moderation. Make a pact to be healthier with one decision a day or perhaps deciding to skip dessert for four nights out of the week. This will make the nights when you do eat dessert all the more delicious and deserved, but still allow you to gain control over your eating habits and be a little bit healthier as a result. Or give yourself that treat only after you’ve pushed yourself extra hard in your workout routine.

 

NEVER do too much, too soon

Make sure your goal allows you to maintain your health. Often, people want to lose more weight than is appropriate. It takes time and patience to drop the pounds so if that is your goal, give yourself the room and the time for gradual change. Also recognize that muscle weighs more than fat, so if you’re adding to your workout, it may take some time to see change and that’s okay! Make sure you’re being safe first and foremost.

 

NEVER overestimate your schedule

There are only 24 hours in a day and most people don’t know what they are realistically capable of. Some people think they’re going to work out an hour a day, when they really only have a half hour available in their schedule. There are plenty of ways to maximize the time that you have, even if it’s a workout at your desk! Be respectful of the time that you have and don’t try to add hours to your days that don’t exist.

Jordan D. Metzl, M.D. is a nationally recognized sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery, America’s premier orthopedic hospital located in New York City. With a practice of more than 20,000 patients, Dr. Metzl is widely known for his passion for sports medicine and fitness. In addition to his busy practices in New York and in Greenwich, Connecticut, Dr. Metzl is a best selling author of five books including The Exercise Cure and The Athlete’s Book of Home Remedies, both published by Rodale. He is also the medical columnist for Triathlete Magazine.