Aiming to shape up, get stronger or generally healthier is a common New Years Resolution. At Barnsley Barbell, we’ve put together our top 3 tips for anyone looking to make a change in the New Year:

1 – Set realistic goals

Whether it’s lose x amount of weight per month or to be able to fit in a size Y dress by summer, be realistic with yourself. Take into account your lifestyle: job, hobbies, social life, how often you can workout etc.

If you need help setting goals or you just an extra push in the gym, send us a message today and we’ll see how we can help you.

2 – Don’t cut out everything you love

If you do this there’s a good chance you’re setting yourself up for failure. Chocolate isn’t bad for you – neither is cake. You just have to eat everything you enjoy in moderation. Whether it’s as a treat at the end of the week or a little piece here and there, you CAN have your cake and eat it.

“Carbs are bad for weight loss” – “don’t eat carbs after 6”. Very common phrases you’ll have heard or will soon hear – read our 5 reasons why carbs are good for weight loss here.

3 – Avoid low calorie diets

Calories aren’t bad – you just need to eat the right amount. Low calorie diets combined with lots of exercise can be catastrophic. Don’t follow any old diet you’ve found on the internet. If you’re a little stuck, drop us a message and we’ll give you a helping hand!

The same goes for drinking shakes as meal replacements. Eat nutrient dense foods that will not only keep you full but will provide your body with the energy you need. If you find yourself hungry all the time, eat foods that will fill you but are low in calories. Vegetables are perfect for this, but also come with great nutritional and health benefits too. See our healthy snacking guide too, here.