Beginning your fitness journey is difficult, but staying on course is just as hard. With many challenges and temptations that you come across every single day, to keep committed to taking care of your body is no walk in the park. Eating healthy or even just in moderation plus hitting the gym regularly can seem so easy some days, but can also be very challenging especially when life happens. After all, eating your favorite comfort food and staying in bed all day sound far more alluring than spending 30 minutes on the treadmill, am I right? But remember that you embarked on this journey for a very important reason: YOU. So, hang in there! Here are some tips that helped keep me stay on the right track.
- There Is a Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow
Whenever I feel discouraged, I always go back to the reasons I started this journey in the first place. I want to be healthy through and through. I want to always be physically active so I can walk and run effortlessly. I do not want to run out of breath when shopping; stuff like that. I also try to reward myself. For example, if I am able to go to the gym everyday or just exercise for 2 months straight, I will treat myself to a new pair of shoes or a new bag. The tiny rewards keep me going.
- Switch It Up!
The workouts you do in the gym can be tiresome in a sense that it can be repetitive. Switch things up by looking for alternatives to gym workouts like hiking or jogging in a trail park. Keep your exercises exciting by making sure that you do not do the same thing again and again.
- Make Your Workout Convenient
I get it - life gets busy sometimes, but that should not get in the way of your fitness journey. You are working out precisely for the sake of your own life, so prioritize it! If you cannot make it to your neighborhood gym, look for convenient alternatives. Jogging in your village, having a set of dumbbells at home, or even walking up the stairs in sets. There are also workouts that do not take much of your time like Zumba, yoga, Pilates, Crossfit, among many others.
- Your Exercise Is Only As Good As Your Diet
Sure, you give it your all at the gym, but if you keep eating like a viking, that cancels all the hard work out. It’s useless. Exercising should go hand in hand with whatever you put on your plate. Reward yourself with tiny treats from time to time, but treats should only remain as that.
- Bank on the Good Fat
I am a great believer of consuming the good kind of fat to help with burning fat. If you want to know how this works, you can read all about it. No, I do not integrate fat to my food intake, but rather I supplement it. It depends on what your preference is, but I have been fighting fat with fat and it has worked for me ever since.
- Hold Yourself Accountable
It’s easy to cheat when no one is looking, but the truth is, you’re only cheating yourself. Hold yourself accountable for the choices that you make. That “harmless” slice of pizza or that extra fries on the side should always be limited, if not avoided. Being accountable means you are also disciplining yourself to commit to your goals.
- Surround Yourself with Supportive People
Having people around you who have the same goals or at least encourage and support you to achieve yours is always a good thing. They can help push you whenever you feel like giving up. Remember, no man is an island and the same should ring true even in the face of losing weight.