What is the first rule in New Year’s goals?
Set realistic and honest goals. Make sure you are honest with yourself and realize the process is a marathon not a sprint. You can and will achieve goals if you are realistic and honest with yourself.
How soon after changing my eating habits will I see a change?
Well, it takes 21 days to build a habit and 45 days normally to see changes. There are 3 easy ways to monitor these changes. The obvious is to use a scale to track your progress as a first option. The second way is to feel how your clothes feel on you. The third and most telling way is to take pictures of yourself. Try to make a weekly routine of taking a picture of yourself in the same clothes. Make it a Monday morning and monitor it week to week. Remember, the camera never lies.
How soon after exercising will I see a change?
Incorporate an exercise plan that you will enjoy and you will see changes in 45 days. I would still suggest tracking your progress so you can see the changes.
I know I should really be doing both. How long with combining a better diet and exercising will it be before I see changes?
Now the combination is going to be your best course of action. With the combination of both you will see noticeable changes and results in 30 days.
What are some of the MUST DOs?
Drink water! Water is one of the most important tools for a healthy body. The body NEEDS water. Cut down on sugar consumption. There are just so many ways this will help your body.
Eat. You must feed your body. Starving your body does more harm than good. Just remember to feed your body the good stuff.
How do I get back on track if I mess up?
No one is perfect, so this will happen. Just get back on track as soon as possible. Just get back to what was working and keep pushing.
Should I workout with someone?
A workout partner will help keep you accountable and motivate you. A gym buddy will also push you on days that you are lagging or would otherwise skip the gym. If you aren't familiar with a gym setting, you can always get a trainer. They can help set you on the right track, but not everyone needs to go that route.
Any last bits of wisdom?
Pick a routine that is going to work for you. When your workout is fun you will stick with it longer. If you like Zumba, then do that. If you like yoga, do that. Same applies to weight lifting or whatever you decide to help you make those changes.
For inspiration and gym motivation, follow Matt on Instagram.