Stepping into your new world of health and fitness is not really the hard strenuous job that everybody seems to think it is. When you really think about it, the hard part is often the start. Like with most things, getting the motivation to kick-start something can take a while, it’s the first step but the hardest one. Afterwards, everything else will be easier once you really get the hang of it, it will be simply down to momentum and a solid regime that’s manageable. All it takes is discipline and commitment.
Below are are the first 5 steps you can take now to kick start this journey of transformation! to get a head start on your road to health and fitness.
You’ve got this; you decide, someday or day one?
You’ll see day one always has a better sense of achievement by actually getting you started.
1. Start small
If your favorite dish is something that your doctor asked you to avoid, there is no sense in skipping it altogether and then binging on the dish when you canít take the abstinence anymore. Take moderate steps towards the goal. If you eat the dish everyday, try to cut down on your consumption and make it just three times a week. IF you have managed that, cut down further and make it once a week. That way, you are able to still enjoy the food and not increase your craving for it.
2. Plan modestly
Set goals for yourself but that does not mean that you have to kill yourself to get it and when you don’t you’ll also kill yourself. Setting goals that are too high, will often only lead to disappointment and frustration. When you plan, make sure that you can do it. How will you know? Be realistic. You know what you are capable of. It is better to set goals for yourself that you know you can do. Accomplishing them will give you a sense of achievement that will make you more confident and more willing to continue with your task.
3. Have a buddy
Sharing the aches and pains as well as the joys of accomplishment with a buddy will help make the process easier and more bearable. In fact, people with a buddy when doing a self-improvement project are better able to stick with their plans than those who are doing the projects alone. This is because when you have a buddy with you, he or she acts as a support system that will help keep you on track and prevent you from giving up. Besides having a friend with you experiencing the same things makes the process more fun and more enjoyable.
4. Have discipline
This is one of the few things that will make or break your plans to finally live a healthy lifestyle. In order to really stick to the plan, you need to develop self-discipline especially when it involves things that you really want to do or things that you are used to doing. Temptations along the way will be many and you need to be prepared to face all that!
5. Do it for yourself
A lot of people start to live a life of health and fitness when they are trying to get a new guy(or girl) to notice them or when they want to impress a lover. Although these are valid reasons, sometimes, they are not enough to see you through the entire process. It is better that you do it for yourself because you want a healthier and better you than do it for other peoples approval. After all, the only approval that you will ever need is your own. Never forget that!
This an exciting and interesting piece. I love the strategies.
My biggest things about finally getting healthy were that I was always doing it for the wrong reasons. I wanted to look good so other people would approve of me. Which is such a horrible way to look at it.
When I first started my fitness journey I literally printed out so many Pinterest motivational quotes and taped them up all over my house. It really helped me because I’m a really visual person and seeing that reinforcement was actually super motivational.
Thanks Brandy, and such a good example of visualisation. I’m a huge fan of motivational quotes and actually just getting the hang of Pinterest myself but you’re so right it does help! See the visual, reach the vision 😉
Before I actually got into a good healthy routine I found that I was trying to throw myself into too much all at one time. My body couldn’t acclimate to all of it fast enough and it threw me off to where I would get discouraged and discontinue my health journey.
Once I found my healthy buddy I actually started seeing great results. I needed someone to be there and hold me accountable and the same goes for her as well. We make each other better!
I found that if I scheduled my exercises and when I was going to the gym I would actually make the time and hold myself accountable. I never thought it could be as easy as blocking time out and then committing to that thirty minutes for the betterment of my health.
Well done Juliana, and thanks for sharing! It really can be that easy when you’re focused and dedicated to making time for a good workout! Thanks for sharing 🙂