It doesn’t matter what the reason is, maybe it’s a New Year’s resolution, because your clothes are feeling a little tight or because you want to thrive in a new sport you’ve taken up, there will always be a good reason to try and get in shape. In doing so, you will get fitter and look and feel healthier, so it’s definitely worth doing.
The hard part with getting into shape is actually following through with it. When you embark on your healthy lifestyle binge, it can be difficult to fall into a routine and start picking up new habits. As such, the below list has been put together to help you with getting into shape.
Be Honest with Yourself
There are a lot of people who like to get up first thing in the morning and take to the treadmill. Others like to do it after work. Some can only do weekends. Regardless of which category you fall into, you need to pick the one that works right for you. If you know that you’re not a morning person and won’t be able to wake up at 6 to go for a run, then don’t plan on doing it. Instead, choose a time that would actually work for you.
The same goes for when it comes to changing your eating habits; you need to ensure that the habits you’re creating for yourself are reasonable. For example, if you have a sweet tooth, cutting out all things sweet will make you miserable, so look for healthy alternatives or try engaging in moderation.
Set Goals
You need to ensure that you are catering your new workout and diet towards a goal; otherwise, you will not have a direction to go in once you get started. For example, if you are overweight and want to lose weight, you should be able to start slow, don’t throw yourself in at the deep end, and put yourself off continuing. On the other hand, if you are hoping to get fit and obtain sports scholarships, you will need to make sure your workout is strict and one that will push your limits.
Find Your Motivation
Motivation is completely subjective. Everyone has different things that get them motivated, so it’s important to try and find what does it for you and incorporate that into your new habits.
If you work better with people, get a gym buddy. If you need to be held accountable, get a trainer and a nutritionist. If you like to document progress, start a healthy blog. All of these things will contribute towards you achieving your end goal.
Don’t Give Up
When it comes to working out, there are going to be points where you feel drained and want to give up. Whenever you feel that coming on, remind yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing and tell yourself to keep going. Also, if you do slip up, that’s fine. There is nothing wrong with resting or having a cheat day; just make sure afterward you get back on it, rather than letting your off day spiral out of control.
