Create a Fitness Plan That is Reasonable for You
This is key: before you even begin a fitness routine, write down your goals and how you plan to achieve them (you should get your doctor’s approval as well). Whether your goal is to get to a healthy weight and improve your eating habits or to completely transform yourself to become as physically fit as possible, you will need to set up a detailed plan. You can change the plan as you get stronger, if need be. For example, when I first started my weight loss plan, I wrote that I needed to do cardiovascular exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes at least 5 days a week. Today my fitness has improved enough that I exercise for a minimum of 45 minutes, 6 days a week. Setting up a minimum goal helped me because it is a limit I won’t go under. It is also important to add more time, or to exert more energy, at a reasonable pace. Pushing too hard too quickly can result in injury. You will also need to write down your diet plan. For long-term weight loss, you should be mindful of portion control, healthy food choices (try to eat at least 5 servings of fruit and veggies daily and eat a balanced diet — carbohydrates are not the enemy) and the need to eat at regular times. I set up a daily caloric maximum for myself; consistently sticking to it has been one of the most important steps in my success.
Journal What You Eat and Your Exercise Details Daily
Writing down what you consume and your workout accomplishments helps keep you focused on your goals. It’s also very motivating to see how you are moving forward and to look back at how far you’ve progressed after you’ve been at it for a couple of months or so. You may also want to journal how you are feeling, both physically and emotionally.
Share Fitness Goals With Family, Friends and Co-workers
By letting everyone in your life know that you are on the path to improving your lifestyle, not only can you get their support, but they will help to keep you accountable. If there are people in your life who are not supportive, then it’s best to avoid them and stick with the people who have your best interests at heart.
Get Temptation Out of Your Kitchen
Do a complete overhaul of your kitchen and get all those nasty temptations out of there. Fill your kitchen with fresh fruit and vegetables and healthy foods. One of the best tricks that I have found is to stock my fridge and cupboards with snacks that can fool my brain when I get a particular craving. For example, when I want a savory snack, I will eat half a serving of 100% Whole Wheat Thins with one Light Laughing Cow cheese wedge instead of reaching for a bag of chips. It’s 105 calories and very satisfying. If I desire something sweet, then I will eat dried apricots or a Skinny Cow low-fat single-serving ice cream cup.
Drink Enough Water on a Daily Basis
We all know that water is very important for the ability of the body to function properly. Because our bodies are approximately 70 percent water, we have to continue to replace the water the body loses in order for it to keep working. Drinking enough water before and during a workout has been found to help increase strength and power and to aid with high-intensity endurance. So, if you want to get the most out of working out in terms of losing weight and getting super fit, you know what to do, right?!
Exercise With Friends and Family
Having a partner or exercising in a group environment can also keep you inspired. Having an exercise buddy is another method of holding yourself responsible. Try a group dance class — the energy in a group setting can be truly infectious.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up When You Slip Up
If you find yourself feeling guilt-ridden because you slipped up, try to let go of your mistake. You are working on lifestyle changes. In life, you sometimes might eat something that’s bad for you because it just tastes so irresistibly scrumptious. One occasion of indulgence isn’t going to derail your efforts. Just get right back into your program and it will be fine. If you find that you’ve steered away from your goals for a week or more, reassess your plan and get back on track. Making mistakes is a part of learning to make permanent changes. Featured photo credit: pixabay via cdn.pixabay.com
