Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to start exercising more? You’re not alone! Millions of people make this promise every year, however only a small percentage see their goal through. For someone who didn’t use to exercise at all and has now made exercise a daily habit and become a Fitness Coach, here are my top 5 tips to help you be one of the select few who are still sticking with it by the end of 2016.
Set some smaller goals as well as weight loss goals. Maybe losing 2 kilos to begin with, or being able to complete a certain number of jumping jacks or burpees without stopping. Vary your goals so that they’re not all in one single area, like weight loss. By varying your goals you are more likely to see your successes instead of focusing on the big goal that may still be a long way off.
Find exercise you like. There are so many options when it comes to exercising. Yoga, Crossfit, Zumba, Walking, Running, Weight Training, Swimming or at home Fitness videos are just a few of the options available. You may have always thought you hated dancing and so avoided Zumba but discover you really do like it! As long as you’re moving you are taking steps in the right direction.
If you hate it, don’t do It. Exercise should be hard but still enjoyable. If you find you really hate something, move on and try something else.
Buy yourself a fitness tracker. Fitness trackers track your goals and your progress, psychologically encouraging you to walk more steps than you did yesterday; to run faster than you did yesterday; to sustain that peak heart rate for just a little longer for that intense interval training. Research shows that wearing a fitness tracker can increase your activity levels by 30 percent!
Get yourself a Fitness Coach. By working with a Fitness Coach like myself you will be more likely to see the results you are hoping for. Be upfront and honest from the start. If you are only interested in one or two sessions to learn the basics and get a program – tell them! This way you both are at an understanding from the get-go. By working with a Fitness Coach, you will learn the correct way to perform exercises and have a plan created personally for you that will help you reach your specific goals.
Hope this helps!
Suzanne The Lifestylist