You marvel at the people you know who somehow manage to stay in shape despite a challenging job, kids, community involvement, etc. You feel exhausted after a day of work and can’t imagine going to the gym. Or perhaps you feel like you would like to work out, but don’t know where to start. A better, fitter you is not out of your reach!
Below are 5 helpful strategies to get you on track to achieving your dreams of becoming fit.
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Take Lessons
If one of the big reasons that you’re hesitant to exercise is that you’re unsure of what you’re doing, sign up for lessons. If you want to learn to lift weights, hire a personal trainer. If you prefer water workouts, sign up for some adult swimming lessons. If you would like to play tennis or golf, hire a professional to show you the basics. It is never too late to learn. In fact, it is better to hire a professional at the outset so you create the correct muscle memory for your new sport.
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Do Exercise You Enjoy
The biggest reason most people fail at fitness goals is that they try to fit into someone else’s mold. It doesn’t matter what your family, friends or coworkers do to keep themselves in shape, all that matters is that you find an activity that’s enjoyable and challenging enough to make you want to keep at it. Your fitness dreams have to be just that: yours, no one else’s. Here are 30 ideas for exercise to help you find your new favorite.
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Pick an Event
Maybe you’re someone who needs a goal to get your body in motion. What’s your bucket list event? If you have always dreamed of riding a century on a bicycle, running a half marathon or completing a triathlon, sign up for it! If you prefer training with another person, ask your partner or a friend to join you, and then start training. Most events provide links to free exercise plans to train, and plenty of training apps exist, so you’ll have a lot of direction for your training.
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Be Consistent
Whatever you end up selecting as your fitness endeavor, be consistent in your pursuit of it. The more often you show up for it, the more likely it is to become a habit. When fitness becomes something you do on auto-pilot, you’re much more likely to be successful. So whether the sun is out or you had a horrible day at work, show up for your planned workouts. Try using these mental tricks to make exercise a habit.
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Eat the Best Parts
One big piece of becoming more fit is monitoring what you put in your body. This doesn’t mean you have to stop eating some of the things you like, it just means that you need to limit yourself to only eating the best parts of them. That way you still get your favorite foods, but you cut your caloric intake and become a more fitness-oriented eater.
It’s time to stop living on the sidelines and make your fitness dreams a reality. Sign up for lessons or register for an event in the sport you’ve always wanted to try. Pick an exercise to make your own. Whatever you decide, be sure to show up consistently and do it. Complement your new exercise routine by eating only the best parts of your favorite foods. You can become the fit person at whom your coworkers marvel.