At the start of the New Year, one of the most popular resolutions that people make relate to fitness.

For some, it's to run a marathon, join the gym, or commit to walking at least thirty minutes a day.

The beginning of a new year makes a goal seem exciting, attainable and reachable!

However, so many people have forgotten about or given up on their goal by the end of January.

So, what can you do to make your fitness resolutions stick? Try these five tips.

Make A Plan

There's always a reason why someone wants to increase their fitness levels. So ask yourself, why are you doing this? How will it change your life? Take your goals and turn them in to an actionable plan. Breaking it down in to small, manageable chunks will make your goal easier to achieve and make you feel less pressured. For example, if your 2018 goal is to be able to run a half marathon by September, turn this in to small weekly plans of action. i.e. in week one, run/walk for ten minutes, twice. In week 2, increase it to fifteen minutes, and so on. Make sure you write your plan of action down, and commit to it.

Track Your Fitness

When your plan is secured, track what you're doing. A fitness tracker - such as a Fitbit - is an excellent way of recording your activities and seeing results, and how your fitness is improving over time. Writing down what you have done is also an excellent way to track your progress, and allows you to see if something you're doing needs adjusting or isn't quite for you (perhaps weight lifting at the gym isn't your cup of tea!). Tracking is another way of keeping your habits in check and forming a long-lasting routine.

Reward Yourself

Incentivise and reward yourself for hitting your fitness goals. Managed to go to the gym twice this week? Treat yourself to a new book. Ran the furthest you ever have in a month? Treat yourself to some new trainers, or a spa session. If you have a treat in mind that you can only buy if you hit your goals, you can visualise it when you feel like giving up…it’ll help you get up and go. Mark rewards on your fitness plan/calendar that you'd love to treat yourself to, BUT only if you commit to your exercise plan. It'll make you work so much harder.

Get A Fitness Buddy

If you regularly exercise with someone, it makes it hard to back out of your exercise commitment if you know you're going to let them down. Scheduled a run for 7am in the morning with your bestie? When the alarm goes off at 6:30, you're not going to cancel because you know they'll be at that start line at the end of the street waiting for you. Your motivation can increase when you have someone to come along for the ride, making your goals much easier to achieve. Equally, tell friends and family about what you're doing and what changes you're making. They'll offer some great support, which will help you stay committed.

Wear The Right Gear

A workout is just no good if you’re uncomfortable in what you’re wearing. It doesn't make you look forward to your exercise, which makes you less likely to want to spend the time doing so. The solution? Invest in some quality activewear like bamboo. Our bamboo activewear clothing is great for running, the gym, yoga...you name it. Slip into the softest, eco-friendly fabric in the market whilst staying dry and fresh as you sweat it out outdoors or in the gym. Choosing bamboo clothing for your high-intensity activities would be your best investment yet. Bamboo is hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking to help keep you cool and odour-free. We have an exciting new 'Obsession' Activewear Range in store for 2018. Check it out here.