We’re halfway through January and the topic of health is buzzing with everyone’s New Year’s resolutions, but did you know that 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions actually fail by February?

In 2018, the most common New Year’s resolutions were, you guessed it, to eat healthier and get more exercise. Whether you’ve joined our six-week challenge, STRENGTH program or are a longtime member of Raw Fitness, we’re here to set you up for success, whatever your goals may be.

Maybe you started out strong on Jan. 1. Maybe you’re still going strong and crushing it at the gym and following your meal plans, working your way to that goal. Maybe you’re still waiting to push the “go” button and are taking things a little slower, or maybe you’re sticking to your routine as usual. Everyone is different, but no matter where you are, here are some simple tips for maintaining that “New Year, New You” attitude, all year long.

1. 1. Find Your Why: Raw Fitness CEO Justin Blum posted last year in the gym’s Facebook group and asked members to share their main motivation and the reason they go to Raw Fitness. If you are looking for inspiration, look no further than your gym mates’ answers to “what motivates you to stay healthy, stay active and stay fit?”

      • • “To inspire others and to prove to myself I’m able, I’m capable and I’m tough!” – Mal Ross

      • • “For me it’s my kids. I love being able to be more active with them. I also find that mentally I am less stressed and more patient with them.” – Harvey Tadmor

      • • “I do it for my survival. In my line of work now health and fitness has to be a top priority. We don’t rise to the occasion we fall back to our level of training so I have to ensure I put in the necessary work everyday so I make it back home to my family. The workouts at Raw help to make sure that I stay in great physical and mental condition.” – Christopher Knight

      • • “I’m going to be graduating nursing school in May. I want to be healthy and fit to set an example for my patients. I want to be able to give them my best at all times. I want to be able to be their strength when they themselves are too weak to even get out of bed. It’s also been great for my mental health. I feel better about myself overall and love that my clothes that fit me before nursing school fit me once again.” – Megan Spanier

      • • “I do it for my boys. My husband died when they were three and five years old, they are now 21 and 19. I’m the only parent they have left. Obesity runs in my family. I’ve decided to be the change.” – Yvette Chervo

      • • “I grew up with very low self esteem and low body image that was perpetuated with bad family eating habits and yo-yo dieting. This has been a lifelong battle for me to overcome, one that influences all areas of my life. I want my daughter to grow up loving herself and for food and body issues not to be a “thing.” I want to raise her with naturally occurring healthy food and fitness habits so that she doesn’t have the same negative self image that I had.” – Margaret Nitzel

      • • “To inspire others to do the same. No matter how busy you are, how many things you THINK are holding you back, there’s always time for your health because in the end, it’s the only thing that’s going to get you more time!” – Savannah Dawn Scarlett

      • • “Self health. It’s a way for me to manage the stressful things.” – Rae Ford

   2.  Celebrate NSV’s or “Non-Scale Victories”: While seeing the number on the scale drop is rewarding, weight loss can be different for everyone and therefore should not be the only indicator for success. Even when weight loss may be the ultimate goal, there are plenty of checkpoints to notice and keep you motivated along the way. Results are rewarding, but getting there takes hard work and dedication. Stay focused and remind yourself of a few ways to improve each day/week/month and remember, it doesn’t get easier, you just get better! A couple of NSV’s can include:

      • • Completing an unassisted push up

      • • Committing and sticking to a certain number of classes each week

      • • How your clothes fit
        

      • • Running faster or longer than before
        

      • • Decrease in stress levels

      • • Improved sleep

      • • Increasing your repetitions or upping your weight

      • • Converting your body fat percentage and lean muscle mass

      • • Celebrating a week’s worth of clean eating

   3. Invest In Yourself: Many Raw Fitness members have already checked this off their list and joined our weight loss challenge or strength training programs, which is already the first step towards success. Much like a savings plan, putting a little of money (or gym time) aside for yourself adds up over time. Treat yourself like an investment, because personal health is one of the best payoffs. Since money is always a great motivation, here are a couple of ways to hold yourself responsible and work towards that fitness “paycheck.”
      • • Start a “gym jar” and award yourself $1 for every time you workout. Choose your time frame (30 days, 60 days, 90 days) and treat yourself to something you’ve been wanting when you reach it!
      • • Compete with friends with a “gym pool!” Round up your gym buddies and buy in to the contest for a certain amount, the winner who loses the most weight, or takes the most classes in a month, or decreases their body fat percentage wins the pool.
      • • If you are new to Raw Fitness, you can take on our “20 in six” weight loss challenge, which has helped thousands of people jumpstart their fitness journey with ultimate accountability.
      • • Make a bet. At the beginning of the month, put away a certain amount of money with a certain goal in mind. If and when you reach that goal, enjoy the pay off. If you miss the mark, the money goes elsewhere. Donate it to charity or have a friend/trainer hold onto it.

Check out what some of our clients have to say about their investments in themselves: