Preparing For Your Fitness 2021 Journey

This year has been hard... let's just say that again, 2020 has been unbelievably hard! So workout's may have helped you cope this year, or maybe you had to put your workouts on the back burner, whatever got you through. But it's never too late to make a fresh start, so let's focus on 2021 and moving forward.

The perfect strategy will be effective and sustainable. In turn, this will allow you to see fast progress and lasting results. Here’s all you need to know.

Personalise Your Nutrition
Good nutrition is the foundation of every successful healthy living strategy. Great bodies are made in the kitchen and clean eating is the preferred way for me. Understanding the basics of nutrition will put you on the right track and for the best results you must learn to adapt an eating to suit your body and lifestyle. After all, an 8st woman looking to tone up will have different nutritional needs to a 20st man trying to lose weight. Likewise, physical activity levels will play a big role, and that's not just what workouts you do, it's what your day to day style is and active you are in your job and home life.
There’s nothing wrong with a cheat day, but general eating should be tailored to you and your goals.

Workout Wear
Great workout wear makes you feel good and in turn helps you to enjoy your workout. Compression style tops and leggings help keep muscles and joints warm and breathable fabrics wick away sweat for a more comfortable workout. And there's no denying great looking fitness wear encourages me to workout! From the high street to sports wear companies I've tried them all, and you might even want to choose athleisure wear from luxury brands such as Balenciaga as an investment into your fitness journey. Looking good makes you feel good, which can go a long way to maintaining high motivation levels. Crucially, comfortable and fitted attire provides the support needed to avoid injuries and irritation. 

Get Some Home Workout Equipment
Even if the gyms are currently open in your area, that situation won’t necessarily remain. Therefore, it’s important to prepare for workouts on your own. Sure, running and cycling are good examples of how you can combine exercise with getting out of the house. However, adverse weather could pose a problem on several occasions. Therefore, investing in a skipping rope, some dumbbells, and a couple of resistance bands will allow you to get a great workout at home. I'm a huge advocate for HIIT workouts at home for convenience, it's what has kept me sane through lockdown 2021!

Workout Buddy or Go Solo
The road to fitness is a personal journey, but that doesn’t mean you have to face the battle alone. A strong mindset is the most valuable tool at your disposal, but the encouragement of friends is invaluable. Arranging a run with a friend will add a social (and socially distant!) edge to your workouts and motivate you both to turn up and give your all. If you prefer to workout alone, an Apple Watch or fitness tracker helps record your progress, and motivate you to compete against yourself! Trying to better your times, scores and workouts is a huge motivational tool as you see the progress happening.

Know Your Goals
Perhaps most importantly, though, you need to sit down and think about what you want to achieve. Goals may evolve over time, but a clear vision should be in place at all times. Don't focus on the scales, instead focus on improving your health, energy levels or even a goal such as 'Couch to 5k' or dropping a dress size. An improved quality of life is far more significant than a figure on the scales.
Focus on small achievable goals, and the long-term milestones will follow.