Whether you’re a burgeoning bodybuilder or want to slim down by springtime, setting health and fitness goals isn’t solely a New Year-fueled event. Fitness goals vary by person, and like those people, come from every shape and size. Focusing on muscle growth, fat loss, increased endurance, or simple health improvements, improving your body and mind through achievable fitness goals is always a good idea. But just setting goals isn’t enough to see progress, much less a significant impact. A few tools and tricks in your fitness toolkit will fuel you through workouts, diet, and other weight loss or muscle growth efforts.
Track Your Progress
While your measures will vary by a goal, there’s almost always a way to track your progress toward them. You can track weight, of course, but measurements of key areas like your hips, waist, or neck are also popular options for following muscle growth or fat loss. Photographs are a particularly helpful option, too, especially if you typically struggle to see the changes in your body when you look in the mirror. Take the time to regularly snap a photo of yourself in a similar (or the same) outfit. For long-term goals or added privacy, a photo storage device can ensure your photos are secure and accessible throughout your journey so that you can compare your progress before and after without the need to keep track of an SD card. That way, when your friends enthuse over your new look, you can see yourself as they do.
Don’t Hyperfocus on the Scale
Even if your primary goal is weight loss, avoid the temptation to focus solely on the number that appears on your scale. From water retention to increased muscle mass, your body will undergo a series of changes—and a variety of weight fluctuations—throughout your fitness journey. If you’re only looking to the scale for reassurance, you’ll be discouraged when the number rises, even if your clothes are fitting better and you’re feeling yourself grow stronger. Remember: whether you find the right natural diuretic to minimize water weight or your body holds on to a few extra pounds as it gains muscle strength, if the number on the scales is rising, it isn’t always a bad thing.
Ease Any Issues That Arise
From injuries to edema, stumbling blocks can interfere with your fitness plans no matter how much you do everything the “right” way. Rest when your body needs it and try supplements like SwellNoMore to treat inflammation, swelling, and, of course, water retention and consequential weight gain. Soothing your swollen ankles after a heavy workout or even relaxing your puffy eyes after a poor night’s sleep, decreasing harmful inflammation in your body really will make a difference. By treating the less-than-fun symptoms that appear as you aim to reach your fitness goals, you’ll help your body to become healthier and stronger—making you happier in the process.
Keep Yourself Motivated
Even with clear markers of your progress, proper nutrients, and fewer symptoms than ever, you won’t always feel like working out. Keep yourself motivated by booking that dance-workout class you’ve been meaning to try or treating yourself to your favorite protein shake after beating your personal best. Remember: you don’t need to wait until you’ve met your big goals. Keep track of milestones along the way to stay encouraged and excited about your fitness plan.
Pay Attention to Your Diet
You might lose body fat and enhance muscle growth by adding regular workouts to your schedule but the best way to meet your fitness goals is to combine those workouts with proper diet and nutrition. Aim to highlight more natural ingredients in your meal plan, whether you’re chugging a protein shake on your way to the gym or cooking a fancy meal for date night.
When fruits, vegetables, and full grains don’t quite meet your needs, seek out natural supplements to add extra nutrients, and help you meet your goals. Seeking out the best bodybuilding supplements, appetite-curbing workout shakes, or simple multivitamin can help supercharge your success. Incorporate whole foods as well as adding some high-quality supplements to your diet and watch your goals become a reality.
From battling edema and inflammation, striving for weight loss, or working to gain muscle mass, fitness goals vary. But, whether you’re a bodybuilder, training for a marathon, or just want to get through a yoga class effortlessly, you can reach those goals—one supplement, workout, meal, and progress photo at a time.