Embracing My Journey ~ Living with passion & purpose!

5 Ways to Get Fit and Not Quit by: Robert Boyd

Good health is a precursor to a happy and fulfilling lifestyle. Yet, even if you have heard it a thousand times, getting in shape can be challenging for even the most determined individual.  Large portion sizes, highly processed food, and a reliance on cars are just some of the obstacles that frequently prevent people from achieving their fitness goals.  There are a few tips that will help you stay on track as you work towards getting fit.

1) Set Realistic Goals. There are all sorts of pills, herbal remedies, exercise machines, and other gadgets that promise miracle weight loss for users.  Yet when it comes to getting in shape, it is important to keep in mind that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to be found.  Different genetics and environmental factors may be beyond your control, so focus on what you can change.  Speak with a doctor and/or a personal trainer about your goals, and discuss what makes sense for you given your body type and your willingness to make lifestyle changes.  Be honest with yourself, and remember that a gradual path towards fitness is much more sustainable that dramatic changes.

2) Incorporate Exercise in Easy Ways. Many times people get into shape only to gain weight quickly afterwards, because they haven’t established exercise into their daily routine.  If you enjoy visiting a gym, that is a great way to get fit.  However, if you’re a bit nervous of the experience, it is necessary to think of other ways to add regular exercise to your lifestyle gradually before you feel confident enough to approach the treadmill.  One of the best methods, if it is at all realistic, is to eliminate daily car use.  If you walk or cycle as part of your way to get to work, it is much easier to maintain your routine even after your original fitness goals have been reached.

3) Find Partners for Your Endeavour. This can have both positive and negative effects, so choose carefully when making goals along with a friend.  On the one hand, if you are both committed, you can greatly increase your chances of getting fit.  On the other hand, if you or your friend permits the other person to wimp out on days, it may be better for you to find a different person or even make plans to do it alone.

4) Take Everything in Moderation.  If you take all the pleasure out of eating, you are putting up some pretty big obstacles in your path to getting in shape.  Stressing over each and every bite you take is not healthy, and the anxiety itself can even have negative consequences.  Rather than eliminate your favourite sweets and fatty foods, substantially limit how much you can eat of them.  If you have specific, high calorie treats you really enjoy, set a goal to run a certain distance before enjoying a smaller portion of it.

5) Celebrate Small Successes. Think in both the short- and long-term when making your plan to get fit.  In a few months, where do you want to be?  Then, work backwards and determine monthly, weekly, and daily goals.  Celebrate each one by doing something you enjoy, whether it be watching an extra half hour of television, taking a long bath, or buying new clothes to suit your slimmer silhouette.  Recognising your successes in the short-term will help you achieve your long-term goals to get fit.

About the author:

Robert Boyd is the Managing Director of SportsEquip.co.uk, leading suppliers of ‘capital’ sports equipment and wet pour safety surfaces.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 10:21 am and is filed under Guest Bloggers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.