Few things are worse than trying to get your body into shape and failing. It takes quite some courage to start on a fitness program and it takes willpower to stick to it and avoid ditching it a couple of days later. Unfortunately, more than half of the people who decide to take up a fitness program do so on a whim and drop out within the first six months. Boredom, busy schedules and a feeling of being fit enough to no longer need the exercising combine to convince people that exercises are not worth the effort and striving.
The first thing you want to do in order to avoid being a complete failure is to set a goal for yourself. If you want to be thinner, then decide on a number of pounds you want to shed. If you want to be able to run around the park without spitting your lungs on the sidewalk, then train accordingly. But whatever you do, set a clear goal so you don’t have to guess whether you’re making progress or not. Also, make sure your goal is realistic. Dropping 1 pound per week through a combination of reduced intake of calories and increased physical effort is a realistic goal. Shedding 50 pounds in two months is not just a dream, but the attempt may also prove dangerous for your health.
After deciding upon a goal, always make sure you’re keeping track of your progress. This will help keep you motivated because you will always have the visible proof of your success at whatever it is you’re doing. But bear in mind that tracking should also be done carefully. If you’re going for weight loss, don’t give in to the temptation to weigh yourself every day. Body weight fluctuates naturally from one day to the other and depends on many factors. It’s much too easy to be discouraged and abandon the program just because two extra glasses of water have messed up your weight.
Keep your fitness schedule as varied as possible. Exercises are great for your health, but only hardcore bodybuilders are never bored by them. Doing the same thing over and over becomes tedious sooner or later so make sure you mix your exercises and change the order every week or whenever you feel boredom starting to move in. Don’t let yourself get to the point where you say “Damn that exercise! I’m not going to do it again as long as I live!”. If you can’t come up with a good plan, ask a gym trainer or a veteran to help you out.
The final advice is to share the joys and problems of fitness with somebody. Find a friend who also goes to the gym and start going together. You can help each other achieve your goals and swap stories about successes and failures in between reps. A workout partner will make things look easier with a positive attitude and you can do the same thing for him or her. Oh, and don’t allow yourself to come up with excuses for avoiding the gym. Cheap tricks like that are never any good.
The first thing you want to do in order to avoid being a complete failure is to set a goal for yourself. If you want to be thinner, then decide on a number of pounds you want to shed. If you want to be able to run around the park without spitting your lungs on the sidewalk, then train accordingly. But whatever you do, set a clear goal so you don’t have to guess whether you’re making progress or not. Also, make sure your goal is realistic. Dropping 1 pound per week through a combination of reduced intake of calories and increased physical effort is a realistic goal. Shedding 50 pounds in two months is not just a dream, but the attempt may also prove dangerous for your health.
After deciding upon a goal, always make sure you’re keeping track of your progress. This will help keep you motivated because you will always have the visible proof of your success at whatever it is you’re doing. But bear in mind that tracking should also be done carefully. If you’re going for weight loss, don’t give in to the temptation to weigh yourself every day. Body weight fluctuates naturally from one day to the other and depends on many factors. It’s much too easy to be discouraged and abandon the program just because two extra glasses of water have messed up your weight.
Keep your fitness schedule as varied as possible. Exercises are great for your health, but only hardcore bodybuilders are never bored by them. Doing the same thing over and over becomes tedious sooner or later so make sure you mix your exercises and change the order every week or whenever you feel boredom starting to move in. Don’t let yourself get to the point where you say “Damn that exercise! I’m not going to do it again as long as I live!”. If you can’t come up with a good plan, ask a gym trainer or a veteran to help you out.
The final advice is to share the joys and problems of fitness with somebody. Find a friend who also goes to the gym and start going together. You can help each other achieve your goals and swap stories about successes and failures in between reps. A workout partner will make things look easier with a positive attitude and you can do the same thing for him or her. Oh, and don’t allow yourself to come up with excuses for avoiding the gym. Cheap tricks like that are never any good.
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