EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – High atop the list of New Year’s resolutions for many people is to set and achieve new fitness goals. A professional strength and conditioning specialist outlined some fundamental principles for people to successfully meet their 2025 fitness goals.  “In your work life, you have to show up every day to get the job done. Or if you want to get that promotion, you have to show up every day and do the things that need to be done. Same thing with the gym. You take these small steps and show up every day to all your sessions,” said Sergio Terrazas, the program director of the strength and conditioning program at Fyzical Athletics in El Paso.  Sergio Terrazas - Fyzical Athletics Program Director Terrazas has over a decade of experience running research-based training programs for both athletes and adults who are just trying to get in shape. He said the best way for people to approach their fitness journey is to take a long-range view -- a marathon over a sprint -- and start by taking small manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. “You don't need to do these two-hour, three-hour workouts if you know what you're doing. Or if you have somebody that knows what they're doing. You can get quality work done in an hour, and that's all you need to push progress forward. Just be consistent and show up,” Terrazas said. As people begin their fitness journey, Terrazas recommends they build a routine that complements their lifestyle to better navigate the life disruptions like work or family demands.  “When you build a routine, you want to make sure you treat exercise like (medical) appointments. So if you treat them like an appointment you can't miss, you're more likely to show up to these types of sessions,” Terrazas said.  Terrazas said the best way for people to stay motivated and remain consistent with their fitness journey is to find what kind of training they really enjoy.  “Find what you enjoy -- whether it's strength and conditioning, cycling, swimming. Find something that's going to get you back into the gym. Because enjoyment, and remember this, enjoyment drives consistency,” Terrazas said.  Terrazas said people can make significant progress within the first three months of working out, but in order to continue progressing beyond that throughout the year, they need to adjust their workout routines to continue pushing their individual boundaries. “You'll build muscle. You'll lose weight. But when you create a demand or a challenge for the body, your body will adapt. So it's going to get better at managing that type of stress. So you need to create harder demands in order for your body to continue to adapt and lose weight and get stronger,” Terrazas said. Outside of the training room or the gym, Terrazas said it is essential for people to fuel their body with balanced nutrition to support their activity levels, and to track their progress beyond just what the scale shows.  “Whether you're having improved energy, better sleep or you just feel stronger in your everyday life, I definitely think those are victories worth celebrating,” Terrazas said.  Terrazas has a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology and exercise science, and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). You can learn more about Fyzical Athletics’ fitness program and what other services they offer by clicking here.