BY COACH NADIA POPOVA

As we are approaching the end of 2023 with just five more weeks to go, I’m proposing you take a pause to reflect on your fitness and wellness journey this year. And when you are done, set new goals for 2024 to become a more robust, healthier, and stronger version of yourself in the coming year.

Celebrate your victories.

Any fitness journey is filled with hundreds of small victories. Sometimes you just have to take a closer look. For example, let’s say you set a goal to lose 40 lbs but have lost only 10 lbs yet. You may think of it as a failure, but hey, you achieved something! Maybe your achievements do not match your set goals because they were a bit unrealistic. Don’t be too harsh on yourself. If you focus on positive aspects, for example, that now you are doing a deadlift with 20 lbs plates but started with only 10 lbs, you are more likely to stick to working out as it will bring you joy and fulfillment.

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I recommend really paying attention to your victories and analyzing them.

Ask yourself: 1. What are my most significant fitness/wellness achievements of 2023? 2. What helped me overcome obstacles and stay committed to my goals? 3. What has my body taught me about its abilities, preferences, and limitations?

Learn from setbacks My motto in fitness as well as in life as a whole is: our setbacks are not failures but rather possibilities for growth. It’s important to acknowledge and analyze the reasons behind them and do better next time. Ask yourself: 1. What were the most significant obstacles that interfered with my progress this year? 2. How well did I navigate them and what did I learn from those experiences? 3. What can I improve to avoid or better navigate similar setbacks in the future?

Setting new goals for 2024 Armed with the knowledge gained from reflecting on the past year, it’s time to set inspiring and realistic goals for 2024. Setting clear and achievable objectives is key to reaching desirable results, be it weight loss, muscle gain, improved flexibility, or other. Now, to make the progress easily trackable and the journey rewarding, break down your goals into smaller, manageable steps.

As a personal trainer, I advise you to: 1. Set specific, measurable goals and set timeframes to achieve them. 2. Create a list of short-term and long-term goals to track them easier. 3. Make sure you are doing the sports or workouts you enjoy to increase motivation and stay committed.

Remember, the journey to a healthier, fitter, and happier you is a continuous process. But it is well worth the effort and commitment. Here’s to finishing 2023 strong and embracing the limitless possibilities that 2024 holds for our fitness journeys! You think you could use some help with your fitness journey? The team of Send Me A Trainer at Coachella Valley led by Nadia Popova is at your disposal. Our coaches will come to the location you prefer to work out at, create a custom training and meal plan, and make sure you are working out in the most effective and safe way to prevent injuries and achieve maximum results. Find us at: www.cvsendmeatrainer.com To schedule your Free Training session text or call us at 760-880-9904