In today’s fast-paced world where everyone is busy ‘being busy’, we do tend to neglect the most basic thing, moving our body. According to Public Health data, 33% of men and 42% of women in the UK were considered not active enough to be in good health. Despite being a sporty person ever since the age of 8, I’ve had my share of ups and downs regarding my physical fitness which included a 4 year sedentary period from 2007 till 2011. Since then, I’ve promised myself to live a much more active lifestyle. Want to know how to sustain an active lifestyle? Then you’re in the right place; read on for my article on Fitness Motivation: 5 Ways to Start and Stick with it!
1. Why do you want to work out?
I believe the most important aspect to maintaining fitness motivation is our fitness goal. Be it general fitness, losing weight or playing sport, knowing your reason why, will help you in planning the steps needed to reach your fitness destination.
2. Create a workout and nutritional plan
The next thing is to prepare a workout and nutritional plan. Do exercises that you love and would enjoy doing regularly. Mix up strength training and cardiovascular exercises.
Check your food habits and start consuming foods that are rich in protein, carbohydrates, good quality fats, vitamins and minerals while also drinking lots of water.
Remember to take everything step by step and not to change anything drastically. Do not start doing high intensity circuits after being inactive for a year or consume 1500 calories after eating 3500 for more than 2 years. Just like a car starts in first gear and then smoothly transitions to the higher gears with progressive acceleration, likewise, our body should also progress gradually to avoid a total breakdown.
3. Keep an eye on your progress
Keep checking your progress regularly (every week or fortnight), both on the weighing scale and in front of the mirror, without getting too obsessed. Make sure that you are exercising regularly and eating properly. It is important to make sure you are taking the right steps and process rather than solely focusing on the physical result.
4. Share your journey
Once you start seeing results, share your journey with people who would love to start theirs. Share it with friends, family, colleagues and like-minded people. This will help create a network and will help tremendously in motivating one another.
5. Have fun
Just like in everything else we do, make sure that you do have fun and enjoy your journey. If you follow the right path, the results will inevitably come. A happy you is a healthy you.
