Back to Basics
How to Plan for Fitness and Health Success
The New Year is all about finally getting things right, starting fresh and shedding the extra pounds from the holiday season. Right now you’re probably all geared up, ready to hit the gym once and for all. Fitness resolutions are great but you might be setting yourself up for failure in mid-February when you decide to have drinks on the beach instead of working on your body. So what can you do to sustain your health zest for good?
Change your attitude about fitness. Excessive willpower won’t work. Willpower is for short-term success. In order to establish long-term sustainability, plan your fitness routine in advance, establish a clear and measurable fitness goal and find ways to motivate yourself. Establish how many times a week you would want to train (including the time and place), at what realistic intensity and what type of exercise. Understand that discipline and consistency is what works best in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Be honest to yourself. Make a self-analysis about your emotional and physical health. Are you stressed? Do you eat for comfort? Are your family members or loved ones going to give you that space for you to work out? How serious are you about making changes? Answer these questions and then decide what YOU really need. Be easy on yourself and start slow. Do not jump into a lifestyle change that is too drastic. Slide into a lifestyle change that is maintainable and realistic.
Focus on the positive. Count the things you love about your body and not the things you despise. This way, when you get more fit, you’ll embrace your continual success and not get unmotivated in the process.
Diets don’t work! Don’t get into the ‘yo-yo’ habit. Even though you want to lose the weight quickly, you are not going to keep it off with all the fad diets. Eat consciously, develop a good relationship with food and eat frequently in small portions throughout the day. You generally know what’s healthy and what’s not. Go for a balanced nutrition that allows you to appreciate all the food groups without turning to packaged junk or fast food that’s high in trans-fat.
Share your plan with your loved ones. Let your friends and family know what your fitness and health goals are. This way, they can support you, understand your challenges and praise you for your steady success. Show them your workout schedule and tell them that you take that time for yourself seriously.
It’s all about sustainability and conscious growth in health and fitness. Love yourself and give yourself the opportunity to make changes for life and not for the first two months of the New Year. Good luck!
For Questions/Advise and interest in personal training: ns@theartofbody.com / 08123 89 09 99
Natalie is an experienced professional in Fitness and Lifestyle Management. She studied Kinesiology in Canada, has Certification in Personal Training and is a Member of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. She is currently a Personal Trainer, Health Advisor and Lifestyle Consultant in Bali.
