Happy New Year! We hope you’re feeling rested and raring to go. But if you’re not (or if you’re worried that your good intentions might not last beyond January), this blog by the KBPT team contains 24 top tips to help you stay motivated in 2024.
Of course, we’d love to support you with personal training this year. Get in touch if you’re based in east London and would like KBPT to help you smash your fitness goals.
Top tips
1. Set realistic objectives for yourself – think Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound (e.g. ‘Build up to 10,000 steps a day by the end of the month’ or ‘Take part in my first Parkrun in March’).
2. Buddy up with a friend to go for a run or do a gym class. Exercising with someone else always makes it more fun and means you’re less likely to put it off!
3. Make healthy food choices and focus on having a balanced diet (read our tips about healthy eating and check out our recipes @kbpt on Instagram).
4. Focus on what you can control – don’t sweat the small stuff!
5. Exercise outdoors, whether that’s a bike ride around the Olympic Park or a swim at London Fields Lido (see which green spaces we love to train KBPT clients in).
6. Give your immune system a boost and help to protect your body from infection and illness (check out our immunity A-Z).
7. Don’t compare yourself to other people in the gym or on social media.
8. Mix up your workout routine by trying something new – how about boxing, cold water swimming or hill sprints?
9. Have a go at intermittent fasting (IF), where you eat within a specific time window each day or reduce your calorie intake on a certain number of days each week (get the answers to common questions about IF).
10. Give your mental health a boost by connecting with other people or learning a new skill (read about the five steps to good mental wellbeing).
11. Not got the energy or time to exercise? Just do a few gentle stretches and go for a 10-minute walk.
12. Make sure your activewear makes you feel good and is good for the environment (here are a few brand suggestions from the KBPT team).
13. Don’t be scared of strength training. It can help with muscle mass, bone density and coordination and, if you do it properly, it won’t bulk you out (find out more in our blog about strength training).
14. Slow down and enjoy the moment – savour your food, concentrate on your breathing, write a list of things you’re grateful for.
15. Have a specific exercise goal in mind, whether that’s a sponsored walk, triathlon or the London Marathon (get the lowdown on triathlons from KBPT founder Kate).
16. Don’t believe everything you’re told about exercise, there are lots of misconceptions out there (we’ve debunked the top seven workout myths here).
17. Stay hydrated – try to have 6-8 glasses of water and other healthy drinks, such as herbal tea, every day.
18. Want a low impact full body workout? Incorporate kettlebells into your exercise routine (read our blog about why we love kettlebells at KBPT).
19. Read an inspiring book to help improve your physical and mental health (check out some of our recommendations).
20. Turn off your tech. You’ll be amazed how good you’ll feel after a few hours away from your screen.
21. If you’re injured or ill, take enough time to recover properly (find out how KBPT can help you with rehabilitation training).
22. Have fun! Here at KBPT, we want our clients to look forward to exercising, not see it as a chore.
23. Be kind to yourself – you’re just as important as everyone else and you deserve to feel good (read our World Kindness Day blog).
24. Work with a KBPT personal trainer to achieve your goals for 2024 (read about the benefits of training with us and meet some of our amazing clients).
