Your best year ever: 5 health and fitness goals for 2019 that aren’t about losing weight

It’s a new year which means it’s unbelievably trendy to set new goals for your Best. Year. Ever.!!! While we are all about setting goals, there seems to be an unnecessary amount of pressure put on your health and fitness-related ones to focus on changing the number you see on the scale. While in some extreme cases this is a great goal, for most of us we may want to shift our focus to less emotionally triggering ideas.

1. Use heavier weights during workouts.

It’s easy to get in a routine when you come to class and opt for the typical dumbbell or kettlebell sizes that you always use. Fortunately, when you work out in a world-class facility like ours, you have A LOT of different weight options. Don’t get comfy with the weights you’re used to using – give your muscles a new challenge by going up just 5lbs. You’ll be pleasantly surprised and v. proud!

2. Show up one more day per week.

Easy enough! Carve out one more hour a day to get to the gym. There is a small *but* here. If you are already showing up 5-6 days/week, you should not be considering adding another. In fact, you may want to consider adding a day of rest and recovery!

3. Learn a new movement / try a different variation that you haven’t before.

Typically completing your push ups on your knees? Never tried to do a kipping pull up? So what if you fail? You never know you can unless you try!

4. Try and eat 100g of vegetables at every meal.

Or, if you sometimesss eat like a trash panda, let’s just start with eating vegetables at every meal. Most people assume breakfast can’t include vegetables unless they’re hidden inside of an omelette, and that’s just plain false. Switch up your toaster waffles and cereal (because they aren’t real food anyway) with chicken sausage, sweet potatoes, and a smattering of other green and colorful plants.

5. Exchange your glass of wine before bed for 10 minutes of stretching or meditation.

Sure, it’s a stress reliever, but is it reallllyyy necessary? Instead of sipping on that glass (eh, glasses) of wine, opt for another, less taxing form of stress relief. Use a meditation app like Headspace or choose 3 different stretches and hold each for 1 minute, three times through. Do it right before you go to bed and you’ll be more relaxed, flexy, and working on your mobility!

Jeff Edwards

- National Coach USA Weightlifting - Crossfit Coach of individual and team competitors - Outdoorsy nerd - Owner and Head Coach at BR Fit Club