Last week’s blog was dedicated to find ways to keep motivated on your weight loss plan with specific emphasis on diet; this week is going to battle the other issue, keeping motivated with fitness.
If you’re going to be serious about weight loss and maintaining a health and wellness lifestyle; you must be willing to commit to some form of exercise. Whatever you choose to do, get moving; anywhere, anyhow, anyway, but GET moving. Whether you are exercising as part of a diet plan, to get healthier, trimmer or just get back into shape, there’s always going to be many reasons why people choose to exercise. Many people take it very seriously and make permanent or radical changes to their lifestyle and then sadly, there are those that start out, like so many others, with the best of intentions but who give up and tire quickly and lose focus and motivation. When this occurs, it comes off as more of a happen chance type of occurrence or a whim rather than a commitment to change and then obviously to maintain. When and if this happens, what can be done to fix it, to keep you motivated and to stay on course and go the distance?
Here are Eight (8) helpful hints and tips…
1. Variety Is the Spice of Life. Truer words were never spoken, especially about exercise. It’s not all about the gym. Try different things such as: Cycling, Running, Walking, Zumba, Martial Arts, Aerobics, Dance Fit, Canoeing, Swimming, Jump Rope, Trampoline, Weights, Gym Machines…ANYTHING that keeps you moving. Obviously, you need to have a nucleus central point of your exercise, so you can monitor your progress but always try NEW things to keep that spice within your fitness lifestyle. And learning new skills benefits your total system in many other ways. The issue here is WHAT type of exercise works best for you. If you’re not a gym person, you need to find something that YOU like and that you will continue to follow and that you like to do. And if you are gym person, you also have to be very vigilant in the fact that the same old routines have to vary, not just for the enjoyment of the process but also so that your body can retrain itself to have effective results. If you’re on the treadmill every day and NOTHING is happening…there may be a reason; try something else or try the routine at another time of day or with another form of music or even with another pair of shoes. Plateaus happen with all of us,and sometimes just a change of method of exercise can start the body reacting positively.
2. Slow and Steady Wins The Race. Be patient. Your progress will be slow and it needs to be that way. Being too gung-ho can almost be as detrimental as not being motivated at all. Go at it slow and steady, and take your time.Learn how to do the exercises properly and safely, so that you will avoid any injuries and also keep yourself from getting burnt out prematurely.
3. Exercise Is Habit Forming. Make it part of your day. Choose a time that is convenient for you and try to exercise at that same time every day. It should be like putting on a pair of pants, brushing your teeth, eating, and breathing. Exercise needs to become a habit.
4. Goals and Objectives. Set out an agenda for short and long terms goals and try taking things one day at a time. Set out with one small goal for your to do on a day to basis, such as walking every day and then another on a grander long-term goal, such as running. If you have never run before, you can’t just expect your body to go into Donovan Bailey mode and see yourself sprinting around the tracks. Short terms….run one block, then walk for a bit, and then try it again. Next time you are out,, try running 2 blocks and then walking for 2 and when you’re ready, you can make that leap from walking to running. In no time at all, you’ll be jogging down the street, and you’ve met the first objective. In time you will notice yourself progress in terms of strength and stamina. Once you have achieved this first goal, set out on another goal and celebrate and remind yourself continually what you set out to do in the first place. Congratulate and reward yourself for meeting that goal and being consistent and the next time you feel like quitting or lazy, continually build yourself up with the fact that you set out to achieve a goal and you fulfilled it.
5. Fun Fun Fun. If you don’t like the workout you’re doing, it will end up like a chore and you will ultimately stop doing it, so you MUST find something you do enjoy. Never forget the power of support and find friends that you enjoy and will offer return motivation to you to keep on going.
6. Keep it Simple Baby. The best part of exercise is that it gives your brain a break. It’s supposed to provide stress relief and be a time out of your day to not think and to just be. If you can’t do your exercise without a roadmap, or a diagram to follow or basically if you have to THINK about it, it’s too complicated. Find something that you don’t have to think about. If you’re not at a gym or fitness centre, try following a routine on YouTube or pop in a DVD that will guide you and one that you don’t have to think too much about and a routine that you could do alone, if you don’t have it in front of you.
7. Commit To A Lifestyle Change. You must commit to a lifestyle change. It’s not just a catch phrase; it’s a must if you want to be successful and to maintain that success. Quite frankly and abruptly if you’re not willing to make a change, then don’t start until you ARE…as it is the absolute most important aspect in all motivators. You cannot view exercise a momentary fix, as something that you are only going to do temporarily. Do your utmost to never deprive yourself of things that your normally love to do because that is going to lead to resentment and if exercising is keeping you away from your favourite past times or food; then it’s going to become something you hate rather than something you love. Don’t go all gung-ho and like a bull in a China shop. Even exercise should be done in moderation. If you have made a choice to add exercise into your life, don’t completely stop dong things and activities that you normally enjoy doing. You have to understand that making a lifestyle change for the good needs to also include seeing the good in exercising and appreciating the good habits and understanding the bad ones that used to be there, but don’t let the exercise take the place of things you used to enjoy,that will only lead to bitterness and ultimately to failure.
8. Keep A Journal. Keep track of your exercise progress and keep a journal, don’t just rely on your memory. Invest in a pedometer to see how many kilometers you have traveled and how many calories you have burned off, keep a daily chart or spread sheet; much like a diet plan. If you started out doing 20 minutes on the tread mill and 50 jumping jacks and then within 2 months, you’re doing 45 minutes on the treadmill and 200 jumping jacks; you will want to remember this and this way you will tangible evidence of how much you have improved, which will keep you motivated.
All of these are simple reasons for staying motivated with exercise. And don’t forget to look in the mirror to see the subtle changes that are happening to you such as clearer skin, healthier complexion, softer and more manageable hair, and looking younger with livelier eyes, until your metamorphosis is complete and you’ve transformed into a healthier version of yourself. Obviously, the ultimate motivator is YOU.
PUT DOWN THE FORK AND GET MOVING!!!
THINspiration: http://joanminnery.health.officelive.com
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