There are two steps to achieving your fitness goals:
1) DEVELOPING A PLAN
2) STICKING TO IT
I have been a trainer for the last 20 years. Throughout my career, I have participated in hundreds of fitness journeys. I have also heard every excuse in the book. The truth is, a good trainer can develop a plan and motivate you to see it through, but whether or not you truly stick to your long-term health goals really depends on your will to succeed.
The good news is, technology and increased social awareness of healthy lifestyles, provide information online and so many free to low-cost fitness programs to point you in the right direction.
DEVELOP A FITNESS PLAN
First, start by deciding what you would like to accomplish or the body type you are trying to achieve. Are you training to bulk up or to lean down? Are you prepping for a marathon or are you looking to maintain a healthy weight? Thinking through your desired outcome will help ensure you’re maximizing your efforts and reach success.
Once you decide on your goal, you can use online tools or a personal trainer to help determine your plan of action. This plan should map out the days, times, session duration, activities you will complete and a meal plan.
IMPLEMENT AND STICK TO YOUR PLAN
The next step is the hardest because it requires commitment and consistency. You need to believe in yourself, trust your plan and see it through. You may see some results right away but you can’t expect to undo years of inactivity or unhealthy habits overnight. Achieving your fitness goals requires an investment of your time, trust me when I say, you are worth it!
When you start to feel like giving up your plan, remind yourself of your greater goal. When you look back six months from now, you’ll wish you had
stuck with it. If your fitness plan doesn’t exactly go as planned, remember that some activity is better than no activity. If you planned for a 60-minute workout on Monday before heading to the office or before your child wakes up, but you find yourself running behind, a 30-minute workout will do just fine that day.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO ENSURE YOU ACHIEVE YOUR FITNESS GOALS:
ANTICIPATE YOUR TEMPTATIONS AND MAKE PLANS TO AVOID THEM.
For example, don’t keep unhealthy food in the house. Or, if you tend to get tired at the end of the day, workout first thing in the morning.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Let the people you are close to know about your fitness goals and ask them to support your success. Invite them to join in your quest to become a healthier version of you.
AVOID THE NAYSAYERS. We all have them. Those people in our lives who enable and encourage our unhealthy lifestyles or just aren’t supportive. Add
their comments to the fire fueling your journey and simply decline when they encourage that extra slice of cake.
DON’T ENGAGE IN NEGATIVE SELF-TALK. When that little voice in your head pops up with a discouraging word, acknowledge it and remember that little voice is just your ego trying to stop your progress toward becoming your best self. You got this!
DO IT FOR YOU. Stick to your fitness plan for you. Not for the summer. Not for a wedding. Not for a revenge body and not to achieve someone else’s standards. Do it for you and do it for life.
BE THE ULTIMATE JUDGE OF YOUR PROGRESS. At times you might fail, and at times your success will only be marginal. However, even one ounce
of success is more valuable than a fraction of regression.
STAY POSITIVE AND KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE BEST AND HEALTHIEST VERSION OF YOU!
By Rick Green
