How to achieve your fitness goals in 2022Whether you’ve set aside your fitness goals during the holidays or during the pandemic, you may see the advent of 2022 as a chance to start again. Before you dive in headfirst, it’s important to consider your downtime, reset your starting point, and start slowly. This will help you avoid frustration or even injury as you work toward your fitness goals in the new year. Set a realistic fitness goal.As always, consult with your doctor before beginning any new fitness regimen or diet. If you have arthritis, past injuries, or other joint problems, you’ll also want to talk to an orthopaedist about the best workout options to avoid reinjury or pain.Together you can set an attainable goal that makes sense for your age and overall health. It’s great to set your sights high, but working toward a goal that’s achievable makes it less likely you’ll end up discouraged and give up.Commit to your fitness plan.Being thoughtful about achieving your desired goal helps you keep from wavering, even when you don’t see immediate results. Changing habits is never easy, but by sticking to the plan, you’ll see results. Having specific, measurable goals built into your plan also makes it easier to stay focused.Instead of committing to losing weight, focus instead on a measurable endpoint, such as losing a specific number of pounds or reducing your body fat percentage to a specific point. Vague goals make it harder to monitor your progress, while a measurable goal gives you a target to work toward that creates a moment to celebrate.Stay the courseThe closer you get to your goal, the more tempting it may become to skip a day at the gym or splurge a bit too frequently. To keep yourself on track, find a workout buddy who will not only hold you accountable, but also make workouts more enjoyable. In addition, you can use one of any number of exercise apps to log your workouts and see your progress in full color. Working with your doctor can also aid in monitoring your progress, so don’t forget to take advantage of that resource.Remember why it’s importantMaintaining a healthy weight and a manageable exercise plan can contribute to your long-term mobility and agility. With help from one of our orthopaedists, you can establish a program designed to maximize your workout with risking injury – or reinjury – or ongoing pain. Since 1972, the specialists at DOC Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine have been committed to providing exceptional orthopaedic care through innovative techniques, quality services, patient communication and education. With specialties ranging from general orthopaedics and physical therapy to sports medicine, joint replacement and more, the doctors at DOC Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine can provide local expert care for any orthopaedic disorder or injury and help put your life back in motion.
