Most of us do it every year, we make plans, resolutions for the coming year to get in shape and stay there, and like most resolutions they are broken quickly and forgotten even faster. Months down the road, we look at ourselves and think “if only I’d stuck with it, I could be thinner by now.” Well, it’s that time of year again, and with that in mind, let’s look at some ways that you can make those fitness resolutions last longer than it takes to boil a pot of tea.
Be realistic. Do not make your goals unattainable. Instead of trying to drop 60 pounds, start out by going for 20. If you reach that goal, then you are inspired to plow forward for loftier weight loss heights.
Plan ahead. Don’t make last minute resolutions. You should start planning this ahead of time and then follow the plan. Having a road map in place and knowing where you are going is always going to be more productive than plowing blindly ahead.
Have an outline. Know how you are going to deal with temptation, whether it is skipping an exercise routine or eating something that you know is going to do you no good at all. Have somebody to hold you accountable.
Pros and conc. Make a list of the ups and downs of a fitness program and refer to it from time to time. A list like this often works wonders when it comes to keeping your resolve to do well.
Let others know what you are doing. It’s not embarrassing, or it shouldn’t be, and quite often, just having someone ask you how it’s coming or complimenting you on your new look is enough to put the wind back in your sails. Better yet, find someone to do the program with you.
Accept your rewards. Don’t feel bad for rewarding yourself when you reach a goal. It’s an excellent motivator. Allow yourself to enjoy something that means a lot to you, as long as it doesn’t screw up the overall plan (like downing a whole pie in one sitting).
Keep track of your progress. Setting smaller short term goals makes them easier to reach and as a result you are more likely to achieve something positive as opposed to getting frustrated because you can’t quite get there. Measure pounds lost in terms of five pounds at a time as opposed to twenty. It’s a goal that is easier to reach.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. You are going to screw up from time to time. You will eat the wrong thing, or the scale will read more than it did yesterday. Simply redouble your efforts and plow forward. It will pay off.
Stick to a plan. If you can hang with something for about three weeks, it usually becomes a habit, and this applies to healthy eating and fitness. Don’t expect overnight results or you will be done before you start.
Go forward. If you do run out of steam, then just go back to the beginning. Commit to something for 24 hours at a time. Before you know it, days, weeks, and months will have gone by and you will be on your way to your fitness goals!
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