Are you tired of constantly having to “get back on track” with your fitness goals? Ugh, I’ve been there too. Monday rolls around, and there you are starting over again, for what feels like the millionth time. You’re frustrated with yourself because you just can’t seem to get into a routine. And even when you’ve got a good streak going for a few days, something always comes up that completely derails your momentum. Like your night out with the girls that turned into a weekend of “treating yourself”. Or the rest day, that became a rest week, that somehow turned into a rest month… Yikes.

It’s not that you don’t care about reaching your goals. You’re just not sure how to do it without having to give up everything else in your life. That’s why I’m going to share my 5 top secret tips to help you stick to your fitness goals. No more starting over. It’s time to accomplish those goals of yours.

1. Have a game plan

Failing to plan, is planning to fail. In order to stick to your fitness goals, you need to have a clear picture of how you intend on achieving them. Will you be doing your workouts at the gym or at home? Have you set aside time to exercise and scheduled it in your calendar? And what workouts are you going to be doing exactly? Do you know enough about programming to create your own training plan? Or are you going to buy a program to follow?

Finding the answers to these questions will set you up with a solid plan of action that will make it easier for you to get into a routine that supports your goals.

2. Dress for the occasion

Though there’s no disputing that pairing your ripped jeans with a simple t-shirt and some sandals is a look, it may not be the best outfit for a workout. That’s not to say that you can’t feel cute as you prepare to get your sweat on. The key is to find an outfit that you feel confident in that’s also practical. I truly believe that a nice pair of training shoes and a comfy athleisure set are always a good idea but you should wear whatever you feel your best in, as long as it’s functional. When you feel good, you’re more likely to get the most out of your workout. And that’s what we all want. Isn’t it?

3. Watch what you eat

It’s definitely possible to reach your fitness goals without dieting. However, what you’re eating and more importantly, how much you’re eating, should compliment your training objectives. What that looks like is going to be different for everyone. At the most basic level, if your goal is to lose weight you should be in a caloric deficit and if you’re looking to gain lean mass, you should be in a caloric surplus. If you have no clue what that means or how to go about calculating that, you may be interested in checking out my nutrition course, Mindful Eating Academy!

4. Track your progress

It’s easy to give up when you think you aren’t seeing results. Being intentional about tracking your progress will not only ensure that you’re moving in the right direction, but will also give you that extra push to keep showing up on those days when you just don’t feel like it. Be careful not to rely solely on the scale because THE SCALE DOESN’T TELL THE WHOLE STORY! Though your weight may be increasing, that doesn’t mean that your body fat percentage is as well. There are many different factors that play into the number you see on the scale. That’s why it’s important to incorporate more than one method of tracking progress. Taking circumference measurements, progress pictures and noting changes in how your clothes are fitting, are other ways that you can monitor your improvement.

5. Invest in accountability

One of the best ways to stick to your fitness goals is to invest in a coach or a personal trainer whose job is to hold you accountable. Having someone waiting for you at the gym 3 days a week or someone who’s constantly checking-in on you throughout the week, makes it a lot more challenging for you to walk away from your fitness goals. Not only do you have someone who’s always reminding you of the goals that you’ve set for yourself, but you also have the additional financial commitment that you’ve made in hiring that person. On average, coaches and trainers charge $300-600/month which is hopefully not an amount of money that you’ll let go to waste easily.