9 Tips to Reach Your Fitness Goals This Year

Stay Injury-Free This Year

Think cross-training, says Jim Wharton, a musculoskeletal therapist and co-owner of Wharton Performance in New York City. "Most injuries are the result of overused muscles," he notes. "By substituting a new activity for your favorite workout just once a week, you'll stay fit and work different muscle groups while giving others a rest." In addition, be sure to scale back your workout if you begin to see symptoms of overtraining (including persistent fatigue and/or muscle soreness, depression, irritability, and difficulty concentrating). Finally, Wharton recommends practicing a technique known as active-isolated stretching, which involves contracting one muscle group (such as the quads) while briefly holding the opposite muscle group (the hamstrings) at the end of its range of motion.