2018: meet what you propose
New year, new life!
Yes friends, the day has come when everyone shouts from the rooftops that this year is our year. Well, now it is, to be sure.
This year we’re going to lose a few surplus kilos, we’re going to stop smoking for good, we’re going to eat a lot healthier, this year we’re going to get up really early and go running in the mornings before going to work, and in the evenings we’re going to learn to play the guitar like Eric Clapton while we learn Spanish or French.
And we’re going to do all of this quickly and without making much of an effort, because we are a bl**** indestructible machine and because…
You don’t even believe that yourself!
But don’t worry, we don’t want to spoil the super optimism of the new year, we only want to prevent the typical slump you’re going to feel halfway through April when you see that you haven’t gone out running, not even a single day and you’re still stuffing yourself with pork crackling, crisps…
In this article, we’re going to try and encourage you to put your feet on the ground, and at least help you with what’s in our hands: sport (sorry, we tried the guitar playing and it didn’t work out either).You can achieve following a cross training routine that gives you results, believe us, and for that you just need to have a plan:
A plan of objectives for 2018 that you’re going to fulfil
Some objectives are easier to fulfil than others, but even those that appear to be simple require work and perseverance. So, it’s important that you are absolutely convinced that this year, at last, you’re going to fulfil your objectives.
Nobody said it would be easy (and if they’ve done that, they’re lying to you), whenever you want changes, you’re going to have to make an effort. Bear in mind that nobody is going to give you anything on a plate. What’s more, nobody can give you anything when it comes to things that depend only on yourself.
For example, your cousin can order for you your last whim from Amazon because you’re tight-fisted and don’t pay for your own Prime account... but he can’t go to the gym for you, true? Exactly.
Come on, here we start your new life as a cross trainer. Go for it:
#1. Achievable goals
This first point might seem to be a bit obvious, but it’s not the first time that someone, who hasn’t lifted his backside off the sofa in 35 years, wants to go out and run 10 kilometres the first day. He’s really motivated, hey! But on the first steep slope he sees his life flash before him and decides to go home and cry…
Let’s see, if you’ve never practiced sports and you want to start with cross training, you’ve made a fantastic decision, but you should know that you have to have patience and start little by little.
For example, you could plan this sequence of objectives:
- In the month of January I want to be able to lift 10 kilos
- By the month of March I want to succeed in doing double jumps
- In August I’m going to participate in a half marathon and be able to do triple jumps
- In September I want to run a marathon, lift 30 kilos and do 40 pull ups
- In January of the following year a spartan race…
Basically, it consists in applying a bit of logic to what you are proposing to do. If you mark impossible objectives, you’re going to get frustrated and give up training. Specific objectives (smart).
#2. Choose positive expressions, don’t be an old sourpuss. Self-motivate yourself.
It’s incredible, but your brain is your main ally to achieve those muscles you dreamt of. It is in charge!
Although it sounds really wimpy, like a Mr Wonderful, if you repeat positive messages again and again, you’ll end up convincing yourself that you can do almost anything.
A practical example for you to see.
- It isn’t quite the same saying: “That sucks! I want to stop being poor” to “I want to earn more money than I did before”.
- It isn’t quite the same saying: “I’m not ever going to smoke again” to “I’m going to achieve a healthier life without the need for smoking”.
- It isn’t quite the same saying: “I don’t want to be fat” to “I want to be healthier and to be in better shape”.
As you can see, these types of positive expressions can also be used outside the BOX. Some people put on weight because they are stressed and others have the craving to binge when they are sad. Therefore, a life with good mental health also affects our physical bodies.
#3. Away with negative ideas
Veeery related to the previous point, not to say it’s the same but the other way round, we have point number three: “DON’T say you’re going to give up doing it”.
- Sh**! It’s when I go to the gym, I miss the Champions’ match
- If I train, I can’t play on the Play Station with my mate
- It’s that I have to drink tonic without the Gin and that bores me
- It’s that
- It’s that
-And it’s that
Don’t be a pain and stop continuously repeating to everyone how you’re suffering since you started going to the gym. Take it philosophically and be positive or you won’t last a day in the box.
#4. Do you have the resources you need?
After choosing the objective/s you want to achieve for 2018, it’s time to see how were going to go about doing it.
It would be ideal to have 500 euro notes coming out of your ears and that way you could pay for a nutritionist and a personal trainer to dedicate themselves uniquely to you. Nevertheless, statistically, I imagine that your economic level is the same as the great majority of mortals: on average level.
Think about whether you can squeeze your monthly budget, tightening the belt and getting some euros to pay for the registration fee at your cross training centre and to get some clothes for training.
You won’t be able to jump with a jump rope if you haven’t got a jump rope, the same as you can’t go out running without running shoes. Capici?
What, you don’t know where to buy cool clothing and accessories…? Well, what a coincidence! We have a fantastic shop for cross training clothes and accessories ;)
#5. Plan ahead of time
Using a programme and a timetable of what you want to achieve is going to really help you accomplish your goals. For example, marking yourself to practice sports on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, one way or another, will make you associate these days to sport and you’ll be mentally prepared when the moment arrives.
Don’t improvise, nor fix all your training days together, it’s much better to do it on alternative days, otherwise it will turn into an obligation, and then it would be a lot more difficult to feel motivated. Mark yourself a FIXED timetable and try to keep to it, for example...
> An objective for the entire year: to lose 6 kilos of fat and gain enough muscle to see my body toned.
> An objective for four months, one that, one way or another, you’re going to have to do to fulfil the yearly one: once I’ve lost a few kilos of fat, I start doing strengthening exercises.
> An objective for the first month: to dedicate the whole month to doing cardio to reach my ideal weight.
And remember: decisively, don’t doubt!
#6. Allow yourself flexibility
Just like in the previous point, we ask you to mark a timetable and to be decisive, now we’re telling you: DON’T DRIVE YOURSELF NUTS!
You’ve proposed yourself to go three days a week to the gym. Brilliant! However, if there is a week in which you’ve got more things to do at work, on top of that you’ve got to go to the doctor and you’ve got backache and in the end, you go just two days… DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT!
Don’t condemn yourself and feel that you’ve failed, because it doesn’t matter. Try to nearly always keep to your timetable, but make sure that ‘nearly always’ doesn’t become ‘hardly ever’.
#7. Measure results without overwhelming yourself
Don’t be obsessed with getting results in a question of days. As we’ve told you before patience is one of the keys to achieving results in cross training.
If for example, you are trying to attain a defined body, you’re not going to shorten the time it takes by looking at yourself in the mirror everyday… Well yes, you’re just going to drive yourself crazy.
And if your objective is to improve your marks, train hard but don’t set the stopwatch every 10 minutes. You’re just going to fall apart when you see that not only you don’t manage to improve them, but they start to plummet.
It depends on your objectives, but give yourself at least a week if you don’t want to get frustrated (so, keep training)
As you can see, in the 7 points there is something that repeats itself: COMMON SENSE.
Even while strictly following all of these tips, you’ll most probably have the odd down day when you feel like giving it up. Those days…ask for help! Talk to your trainer, who I’m sure will encourage you to continue. We’re all human and sometimes we need a helping hand to give us a push.
One thing should be made clear before finishing: objectives will take more or less time in fulfilling, but they will never be fulfilled if you sit around at home.
Go for 2018, see you in the BOX!