Now that the holiday celebrations are over, this might be a good time to start or resume your fitness goals for the new year.
To help us identify how we can start our own roads towards our healthier selves, ABS-CBN News reached out to Kerry Sports Manila’s Director of Sports and Recreation, Angel Pangilinan.
Pangilinan explained that an individual must first know what the reasons are for their fitness goals, saying that it would put them in the proper headspace to start and go about with their journeys.
“A few of the struggles would be that the goals might not be cleared or aligned yet. They usually start with a mindset that they just want to lose the holiday weight,” she told ABS-CBN News.
“But it is also very important that before they start with any fitness journey, the ‘why’ is very important. The struggle is you don’t know where to start, and to be able to really start well, the goal should be clear.”
“In terms of what your goals are, do you want extended energy? Do you want more agility? Are you preparing for a sports event? Or for those who are 50s, 60s, and above, do you want to age gracefully? [You must know] what the reason is behind it, what is the goal, and who are you doing it for? That will provide a full plan for you on how to execute moving forward,” she added.
Pangilinan then shared that once you are already knowledgeable of what you want to achieve, it is best to understand next how realistic your goals are and to also know the time needed to be spent before it can be realized.
“The expectations should be realistic and achievable. There’s a lot of patience and perseverance in supporting your goal. To start, the goal should be clear, and your plans should support the goal,” she shared.
“Each individual is unique. Some might strive with an advanced program, while some really take it at their own pace. Either way, whatever works for you, you know that it would be something that one can achieve.”
Pangilinan also cited that understanding one's capabilities and knowing your limits can also help as the individual sets out their plans.
“I think it would be important that you’d be working at your own pace. If it’s at a beginner's pace, that’s fine, because it is really essential that you listen to your body and you personalize your approach,” she added, while also saying that reaching out to professionals can help even more.
“Also, it is important that you get guidance from professionals, especially if you’re only beginning this journey. If you get guidance from professionals, you’d be surprised that it doesn’t necessarily follow that you need to have a gym membership.”
“Sometimes, those fitness professionals who are available online extend their help. Those who are in TikTok, on Instagram, they answer comments on questions. There’s a lot of people who are available who can assist you in terms of guiding you on your fitness journey, so take advantage of those,” she added.
Pangilinan then went on to give advice both to those who are starting their fitness journey for the first time and to those who already have experience and would like to resume what they have already built on in the past.
“For those who would just really resume their fitness routine, go back to what are your goals for this round. I’m sure they have achieved a goal in the past. So, what is the goal in this second round? In what intensity should I work on this goal?” she said, explaining that these individuals must aspire for more than what they have already achieved previously.
“Get guidance. It’s important even if you’re on the advanced side of fitness. I think, for those who are doing this consistently, they are aware that more than half of the battle is their diet.”
“It is important that it is not only on the fitness that they should look out for now that they are in the ‘second round’, but also, there’s a lot of focus that should be given in terms of their diet,” she added.
On the other hand, here is what she thinks the new ones should do as they embark on what could be considered an unfamiliar path.
“They should start gradually and experiment with the different fitness offers that are available to them. It doesn’t follow that there’s one activity available in a facility and you have to [only] focus on that. You have to explore,” Pangilinan bared, explaining that they should start small.
“Some would even strive to just be running around their perimeters and enjoying nature. So just take it gradually and experiment where you enjoy it.”
“In activities that you enjoy, you are not forcing yourselves into exercising. And very important for those who are starting is not to compare their progress with other individuals because we all progress differently. Some would just have a specific diet and they reduce weight instantly, and some would use more time, so this is really an individual and independent fold,” she added.
Aside from this, having those around you also give their support and guidance can also be beneficial as they slowly try to create their own personal routines.
“It’s also best to have an accountability buddy with you. If your family is involved in the goal, set expectations. For example, tell them: ‘Guys, tonight, I won’t have rice’, said Pangilinan.
“It’s important that your loved ones are also involved in the goals that you want to set, so that you get the support that you need. Not only your self-resilience, but your environment is also supporting you in your goals.”
Modern gadgets and technology, she said, can also provide some benefit as they move forward.
“Goals are really a must. Planning and scheduling these things are also important, but I think, to add, people can also look into having technology support their goals,” said Pagnilinan.
“There are plenty of wearable technology that could help them, so for those who would like to invest in themselves further, you have watches that can support, remind, and send you notifications to work out and be consistent with the goals,” she added.
Regardless if you are already experienced or not, however, Pangilinan said that self-discipline and commitment are still the best helpers if people want to stay consistent with their fitness goals.
“I think that it is also important to build your goals into your calendar. Ensure that you are committed to it,” she added.
Getting fitter and healthier takes a lot of effort and commitment, and following what was shared above can make our path a little bit more structured and more goal-oriented.
Who knows? You might not need to read this anymore next year because you have already reached your fitness goals by then.