6 Secrets to Fitness Success
- Set Goals
If you want to succeed with your fitness you need good goals.Good goals are SMART. Smart goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed.
Without well thought out goals, you are unlikely to achieve them.
The more specific you can be with your goal, the better. You can create several goals around your fitness and lifestyle.
An example of an effective goal: “To lose 3 stone of weight before November 2013 by training 3-4 times a week for one hour each time at the gym”
An example of an ineffective goal: “To lose weight”
“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” Fitzhugh Dobson
- Train Consistently
Try and make your fitness regime part of your weekly routine, and prioritize your training sessions. If you skip weeks of training just because your social life is getting in the way you will achieve very little. Schedule training sessions into your diary at a time you are most likely to be free, and just stick to it. You should aim to train 3-4 times a week to get the best results. - Give Yourself Some Slack
Not many people can change overnight. In reality, it can take anywhere from 18-224 days to make a new behavior an ingrained habit. It takes this time as behavioral change involves physical changes in the brain. How long it takes to create a new habit depends upon the person, and how much of a shift they have to make. Before the new habit is ingrained you might experience more resistance to your new fitness regime. Remind yourself this is normal. Over time, your new healthier habit will crystallize.“Start doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” St Francis of Assisi
- Only Focus on Positive
Many people set themselves up to fail by viewing everything to do with their fitness negatively. This is a sure fire way to give up and fail. What you think and speak, you attract. When you speak negative, you attract negativity. When you speak positively, you attract positivity.Simply choose to try and replace all your negative thoughts and words with positive words and thoughts; it is as simple as that. For example, if you are used to saying “I am so lazy” replace that with “I have so much energy”. If you feel you could become more positive, why not post wee post-it-notes around your living space with positive messages?
- Overcome Hurdles
Sometimes life throws us a curve ball, and this can attempt to throw you off-track with your fitness. Think about how you would deal with possible scenarios, so if they materialize you will know how to deal with them, so they never become hurdles. For example, imagine you are going on holiday for three weeks. You would want to think about how you can keep up your exercise regime on holiday so your strength and fitness doesn’t slip.Some hurdles we can’t avoid in advance, life is like that. However, by adopting a rational approach to your fitness, and not striving for perfection, you can overcome any hurdle. It all comes down to making a commitment to your training, and perseverance. If you experience a setback you just experienced a setback. You just keep on going and recognize that setbacks are part of life, and that you are doing okay. You don’t have to feel guilty or a failure, you just need to stay as positive as you can.
“Be not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of standing still.” Chinese proverb
- Get Support from Other People
It is important that you get support from people around you, so you can share your progress. Maybe you can get them involved in exercising with you? You could also employ a personal trainer. A trainer will help you achieve your goals as they have the necessary experience and skill. This saves you endless stress trying to work out what to do, and wondering if what you are doing is effective.
Tags: discipline, exercise, fitness, goals, Motivation, success, tips, workout
