As we head into 2022, lots of people are looking for advice for how to get fit or maintain their fitness levels in the new year. We’re passing on some advice from NYC-based master trainer Antonia DeSantis, who specializes in working with people over 50.

Some of DeSantis’ top tips for the New Year:

1. KNOW YOUR WHY – What is your bigger reason for working out & getting healthier? Focusing on a specific weight goal, or pants size isn’t going to keep you motivated once you reach it and it will just make you more frustrated if you don’t. Having a clear reason why being healthy and strong is important is key. Do you want to be able to play with your children or grandchildren? Do you want to be able to carry your own groceries up the stairs? You will be more motivated to stick with your fitness goals if there is a bigger reason to get healthy.

2. SET SMALL GOALS EACH WEEK – Trying to tackle too much is a sure way to set yourself up for failure. (I am guilty of this too!) So start small….commit to exercising 2-3 a week instead of 5-6. And this can be for 30 min, broken up into pieces. Anything that will get you started, and is doable for you. Or you can cut back on soda so you have 1 less a day until you only have it once a week. Start slow, but make it possible to do. . Then you can add more changes. The idea is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and not starve or push yourself so hard you burn out or quit.

3. PLAN YOUR WORKOUTS EACH WEEK LIKE ANY OTHER APPOINTMENT – Your workout is the equivalent to a doctors appointment or any other appointment you put into your calendar. You can’t miss it and yes, it’s just as important. So schedule it ahead of time when you set up your weekly agenda. Fitting a workout into a busy day will be much harder to do if you haven’t set aside that time beforehand.