Big thanks to Target® for sponsoring today’s post through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select.

Everyone wants to know the secret to ___________.

You fill in the blank: Losing weight. Maintaining a healthy weight. Running faster. Running your first 5K. Qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Eating better. Cooking more. Getting stronger. Finding balance.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

We all have important health and fitness goals we want to achieve this year. It doesn’t matter if we have a hectic job or stay at home, have kids or don’t have kids, are married or single, are a seasoned athlete or just a beginner … we all want to be our best selves and we all face personal challenges on varying scales that make achieving our well-intentioned goals and resolutions feel daunting at times.

The good news is that there is a secret for learning how to keep New Year’s resolutions or fitness goals in 2015. It’s not a quick fix or a magical silver bullet, but it’s something that is achievable for all of us: CONSISTENCY.

Consistency is the ultimate key to sticking to our 2015 goals and seeing them through to the finish line. Consistency is taking small steps every day that lead to really big results. Consistency is going the extra millimeter, not always the extra mile. Consistency is about the belief that doing something is better than doing nothing, and that all those “somethings” will translate into a better lifestyle and conquered goals over time.

Consistency leads to discipline and discipline is what helps us keep choosing to do the work it takes to make big things happen.

So how do we achieve consistency this year so we can ultimately conquer our big running and fitness goals? Here are 8 tips for becoming a more consistent runner and exerciser.

1. Make an appointment.

Would you miss an important meeting at the office? How about a doctor’s visit you’ve had scheduled for 3 months? Would you blow off a parent-teacher conference at your child’s school? I didn’t think so. We have to treat our fitness and running journey the same way we treat other obligations in life. Make appointments with yourself to get your workouts in. Go a step further than just penciling them into your schedule by reserving a spot in a class. I’ve recently started using ClassPass which requires me to schedule all my workouts through their app in advance. If I cancel within 24 hours, I get charged a fee of $20. The same is true of most boutique fitness studios like barre class, competitive spinning, Orange Theory, etc. where you must schedule your spot in advance. Make it harder to make excuses by prioritizing your workout in your daily schedule.

2. Know you can do anything for 15 minutes.

We all are going to have those days where hitting the pavement for a run or going to the gym feel impossible after a long day or an alarm that goes off too early. Make a deal with yourself that all you have to do is 15 minutes of movement. Maybe that’s just a mile of running or a walk around your neighborhood. Chances are, once you get out there, you’ll want to do more than 15 minutes. And if you don’t, at least you got moving for 15 minutes. Something is always better than nothing.

3. Don’t worry about time or pace.

When getting back on track and staying consistent with your workout plan is the focus, ditch your watch and don’t be a slave to the time on the clock. I’m coaching several athletes right now who have had to take a lot of time off running due to their personal schedules and life challenges. They are focusing simply on getting back to running consistently without large gaps of time off so they can safely build mileage again. Remember that this is a journey. Start slow. Don’t judge yourself for what you think you should be doing or compare yourself to what others may be doing. Just get out there and do it – with the only goal being to complete the miles or the workout.

4. Surround yourself with inspiration.

A sure-fire way to keep you motivated and consistent is to constantly remind yourself why you’re doing this. Post inspirational quotes, photos and sayings on a space in your office or somewhere you look all the time. Create an inspirational Pinterest board to give you a boost when you’re feeling an excuse coming on (or use my Run Happy Inspiration and Discipline board for your motivation). Create personal mantras – short phrases or sayings you can repeat to yourself when moments get challenging or you feel your strength waning. I often think of the mantra “choose what you want the most over what you want now in this moment.” The next time you try to reach for an excuse, reach deeper for the one thing you want most and let that inspire you to get out there and put in the work.

5. Change it up.

If you’re in a rut and a lack of motivation is killing your quest for consistency, change things up. Try a new workout or fitness studio. Join a neighborhood running group or boot camp. Spice things up to bring that passion and mojo back. I’ve been trying all kinds of new workouts this month – from restorative yoga classes I never made time for to incredible strength training classes and cycling classes. I feel like I have a whole new lease on the fitness part of my life and that I’ve been re-energized to meet my goals (and become an even stronger runner). Try something new this month if you feel you need a jump start.

6. Invest in new gear.

If you’re finding yourself yo-yoing on the exercise front, allow yourself to splurge on a new workout outfit to get you excited to get back out there in something new (or reward yourself with a new outfit once you commit to a week or month of consistency). Whenever I get a new outfit or shoes, I can’t wait to put them on and try them out. And the good news is; it doesn’t have to break the bank.

My friends at Target® recently sent me a $50 gift card to help me with my 2015 goals of maintaining my running fitness and getting stronger. They must have seen my credit card bill since I have been there 5 times this month and have walked out with about 30 different things I never knew I needed, from adorable stationery to fitness bands to 1-cup sized glass bowls I eat my after-dinner snacks in. Target® is amazing like that, right?

Every time I walk into the store, I always find myself here …

I look at all the fitness clothes, I touch the fabrics and I ooh and ahh at the new colors. But it has been a long time since I’ve purchased any of their C9 by Champion workout gear. Earlier this month, I decided to use my gift card (and then some) to purchase a few new things for all the barre, yoga and strength training classes I’ve been taking.

Here’s what I bought from the Target® C9 collection that is helping keep me consistent.

• Sports bras! I’ve been in dire need of new sports bras, especially since I do most of my running in tanks with shelf bras and the cold weather is requiring me to swap out those tanks for long sleeves. I am loving the C9 by Champion® Women’s Seamless Racerback Sports Bra (I have it in the black heather color) and the C9 by Champion® Women’s Seamless Cami Sports Bra (in pink). I’ve worn the Seamless Racerback to run and to cross-train, and I love to wear the pink Cami Sports Bra under my Layering Top (see below) for a super-cute look at yoga or just around town. These are both medium support, so for a girl with tiny ta-tas like me, this is enough. If you have a larger chest, you will need something in the C9’s high support line to keep the girls in check. Both bras are super soft and have moisture-wicking fabric to keep you dry and reduce nasty chafing (which is often a problem for me right at the middle of the breast bone). The Cami also has adjustable straps so you can customize your fit. They crisscross in the back for a sexy look if you’re brave enough to wear your bra without a tank. The best part? Wait for it … the price. The Seamless Racerback was on sale for $10 and the Cami Sports Bra was only $16.99. Cha-ching!

• Running tank: The C9 by Champion® Women’s Training Tank (I bought it in black) is perfect for running and racing while still being completely functional at the gym or in the weight room. I ran a 4-mile tempo run last week wearing it, and I also wore it to lift weights. It’s super cute and comfortable, and I paired it with the Seamless Racerback Sports Bra mentioned above. My favorite feature is how long it is. It covers your backside and hides any trace of camel toe (not that any of you have that problem with your workout bottoms, right?), making it flattering on many different body types. It rang in at $22.99.

• Patterned Capris: I love the current trend of amazing patterns on workout bottoms. I was excited (and surprised) to find so many amazing capris and tights at Target® with really fashion-forward patterns. I snagged two pairs: the C9 by Champion® Women’s Advanced Performance Capri Legging (in metallic grey) for barre class, strength training and yoga and the C9 by Champion® Women’s Compression Knee Legging for running. Both are so fun and really put a pep in my step. I was excited to get out the door in these and they pair great with the Women’s Training Tank above. Neither have pesky seams or zippers which make lying on a mat easy and comfortable as well.

• Layering Top: Last but not least, and surprisingly my favorite find, is the C9 by Champion® Women’s Layering Top (in heather grey). This little gem has not left my body since the day I bought it. I’m either going to have to go buy 3 more just like it or start doing laundry every other day. It’s kind of like a thin sweatshirt that’s longer in the back than in the front. It’s amazing to wear before and after a workout or to a restorative yoga class. And who am I kidding? I just love wearing this everywhere. Two thumbs up!

7. Get an accountabilibuddy.

Last week, I talked about the importance of finding a friend or support system that can keep you accountable to stay consistent with your plan and your goals. I have several friends I schedule runs and workouts with each week so I have someone counting on me to show up. I track my food in My Fitness Pal with my mom so we can stay on track with our clean eating goals. And, I’m sharing my progress every week here on the week-in-review link-up series where you can join in too.

8. Write it down.

Last but not least, keep track of your workouts and training so you can log your consistency over time. Writing something down helps not only keep track of your miles and workouts, but who wants to see lots of blank spaces during a month or week in their training diary? It is mental motivation! I use both the Believe I Am journal by Lauren Fleshman and Rosin McGettigan-Dumas as well as Daily Mile online (the smart phone app is called Electric Miles). I also write down how I felt, where I struggled and other challenges so I can identify patterns over time and take actions to correct them.

This post was sponsored by Target® through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post sharing my thoughts about Target® C9 apparel, all opinions are my own. No content on runladylike.com will ever be compromised because of opportunities to work with fitness companies and brands. It’s real, honest, and uncensored – and it always will be. If I ever share items you don’t like, please be sure to let me know and why at runladylike@gmail.com.

What strategies do you use to stay consistent with your training and fitness goals and for how to keep New Year’s resolutions? Have you ever tried any of the workout gear in the Target® C9 by Champion® collection? If so, what did you think? What else do I need to buy?