Many people contemplate getting in shape but find it hard to get motivated to start working out. Quite often, work and family responsibilities, as well as other challenges that life may throw at you, get in the way of your fitness journey. For example, getting to the gym can be a real challenge if you barely slept for five hours, had a very stressful day at work, had to come home, cook dinner and then take your kids to hockey practice.
People are busier than ever and it seems like a never-ending ‘to-do list is keeping us from reaching our fitness goals.
Luckily, there are ways that you can overcome those challenges and re-wire the way your brain thinks about fitness.
Below are a few tips to help you start your fitness journey:
1. Recognize the benefits of getting in shape. Even 30 minutes of exercise per day can help improve your energy levels, reduce stress, and elevate your mood. Not only that, but regular exercise also boosts your immune system.
You will also look and feel better. The healthier you feel, the less likely you are to miss work and important events due to illness. Those should all be good reasons for you to get your body moving.
2. Schedule your workouts ahead of time. If you commit to working out ahead of time, you are less likely to skip your workout. Set a time in your schedule that’s best for your workout and plan everything else that you need to do that day around your workout.
That way, you are not substituting your workout for some mundane task that could be done at a different time.
3. Find a physical activity that you like to do. You are more likely to stick with your fitness program if you actually enjoy what you do. A great fitness program is one that is challenging, progressive, and, most importantly, fun. For example, if the gym is not your cup of tea, try jogging, biking, hiking, or swimming.
4. Set a realistic goal and create an actionable plan. Your goal should be timely, attainable, specific, measurable, and realistic. For example, if you want to lose weight, you need to be specific with how much weight you want to lose. You also don’t want to say that you’d like to lose 20 lbs in one week because that is simply not realistic. Once you set your goal, you need to plan when, where, how, and how often you are going to work out in order to reach that goal. The more progress you see, the more likely you are to stick with the program.
5. Hire a personal trainer. A certified and knowledgeable personal trainer can take all the guesswork out of your fitness journey. A great personal trainer is a your sounding board and your biggest cheerleader. Your trainer should keep you accountable and help you track your progress. You will accomplish a lot more if you hire a trainer to design a workout program that is fun, challenging, and tailored to your goals and lifestyle.
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