Reviewed by: Pat Byington
5 steps to achieve your New Year’s Fitness Resolution
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How many times have you told yourself, “next year is the year I finally commit to getting fit”? And how many times have you eventually stopped going to the gym and fallen into old, unhealthy habits? If that sounds familiar, then this article is for you. Keep reading for five simple steps that will help you kick your old habits and get into a new, healthy routine in the New Year.
5 steps from a personal fitness expert
When it comes to personal fitness, I am no expert—so I turned to someone who is: Alex Gray, a local fitness enthusiast and Regional Fitness Trainer for Orangetheory Fitness. Originally from England, Alex moved to Birmingham a little over three and a half years ago to be with his wife. While Alex waited on a Green Card, he started checking out all the fitness facilities in the area—that’s how he found Orangetheory.
“I took my first Orangetheory class at the Inverness location and really enjoyed it. I loved the product, I loved the results and I loved the coaches. As soon as I got my Green Card, I applied for a coaching role at Orangetheory and I’ve been here ever since.”
Alex Gray, Regional Fitness Trainer for Orangetheory Fitness
When you get into a consistent workout routine, you don’t just look good—you feel good. Here are the five steps Alex shared to help you along your fitness journey.
1. Set a specific goal
Before you step foot in the gym, it’s important to set a clear goal for yourself. Do you want to lose a certain amount of weight? Do you want to put on muscle mass? Do you want to feel better overall?
“At OrangeTheory, we have a saying: ‘vague goals will lead to vague results.’ We have people that come in all the time making vague statements about wanting to get in shape or get healthy, but that can mean different things for different people. The first step towards personal fitness is setting a goal and figuring out what you need to do to achieve it.”
Alex Gray, Regional Fitness Trainer for Orangetheory Fitness
Pro Tip: Write your goal down and keep it highly visible.
2. Bring a workout buddy
Let’s be honest—it can be incredibly challenging to drag yourself out of your cozy bed for an early-morning workout. That’s why finding a workout buddy who can hold you accountable is so important.
“Whether it’s a friend, coworker or a family member, having some sort of support network is vitally important to personal fitness. I’ve seen amazing results in terms of consistency and enjoyment from people that get into a routine with a buddy”
Alex Gray, Regional Fitness Trainer for Orangetheory Fitness
At Orangetheory Fitness, the coaches work hard to create an environment where members feel supported in their goals.
3. Discover a workout you enjoy
“I’m a firm believer that the #1 way to achieve your fitness goals is consistency. Anyone can come in and put everything they’ve got into one intense workout—but if they don’t stay consistent with their routine, the results aren’t going to come through.”
Alex Gray, Regional Fitness Trainer for Orangetheory Fitness
This may sound crazy, but did you know that you’re allowed to enjoy working out? By finding a workout you enjoy, you’re more likely to consistently do the workout—which will help you achieve your fitness goals.
Click here to learn about the different types of workouts at Orangetheory Fitness.
4. Make decisions to achieve your goal
Have you ever heard the saying, “weight is lost in the kitchen, health is gained in the gym”? Well, it’s true. That’s why it’s important to commit entirely to your fitness goal—not just when you’re in the gym.
“A lot of people approach personal fitness in a “Do, Have, Be” way. ‘If I do the workout, I’ll have the body I want and I will be healthy.’ For me, it’s been helpful to reverse that formula. By being a heathy person and doing what a healthy person would do, you’ll have the results of a healthy person.”
Alex Gray, Regional Fitness Trainer for Orangetheory Fitness
5. Measure your progress
After you’ve committed to a workout and made it part of your routine, it can be demoralizing if you don’t immediately see the results you want. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, don’t panic—fitness results take time, and your body is slowly changing each day. That’s why it’s important to consistently measure your progress towards your goal.
“Time and time again, I’ve seen that people who measure progress toward their goal are more likely to achieve it. Whether it’s body weight, max bench press, a longer run time or anything else, taking consistent measurements of your progress is going to help you stay engaged and more likely to achieve your goals.”
Alex Gray, Regional Fitness Trainer for Orangetheory Fitness
At Orangetheory, members have access to an InBody Test body scanner that can assess their muscle mass and body fat. In fact, Orangetheory members wear OTBeat performance trackers and track their results every single class.
“At Orangetheory, we pride ourselves on the fact that we have people of all fitness levels and ages (14 and up) come into the studio and experience life-changing results. One new member has lost 20 pounds since he starting coming to Orangetheory just two months ago, and he’s already thrilled with the results.”
Alex Gray, Regional Fitness Trainer for Orangetheory Fitness
Find your fitness community at Orangetheory Fitness
If you’re looking for an inspiring workout community that will help hold you accountable to your goals, look no farther than OrangeTheory.
Orangetheory operates five locations in the Birmingham area:
- Downtown Birmingham — 117 20th St S, Birmingham, AL 35233
- Hoover — 4441 Creekside Ave #141, Hoover, AL 35244
- Inverness — 210 Inverness Cors, Birmingham, AL 35242
- Trussville — 2050 Gadsden Hwy #124, Birmingham, AL 35235
- Vestavia Hills — 790 Montgomery Hwy #132, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
BONUS: It’s almost time for Orangetheory’s annual Transformation Challenge! From mid-January to mid-March, participating members will work out with the goal of losing as much body fat as they can. During the Orangetheory Transformation Challenge, members take an InBody scan before and after the eight-week challenge to see how much progress they made. At the end of the challenge, the member with the highest percentage of weight/body fat loss will take home the crown and some cold hard cash.
Ready to get moving? Become a member at your local Orangetheory studio today!
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