Are you falling out of love with your fitness routine?
Unfortunately for most people, the excitement associated with a fresh
start tends to dwindle, along with the amount of time dedicated to
living well, eating right and exercising regularly. Good news, now is
the perfect time to troubleshoot your training techniques and make some
edits to goals gone wrong. Lets get ready to be February fit by
following this feel-good formula, that will help you get healthy and
stay on track.
Motivation. What moves you to make a change? Stop
setting goals that are solely based on the superficial. Think of
fitness as preventative medicine, not puckered fish lips, a belly baring
Nike tank or a million filters giving the illusion of perfection in
some phony fitspo selfie. Here’s a healthier picture: living longer,
having energy, being able to see your children grow up - these are goals
worth setting and fulfilling. Your first goal should start with
scheduling an appointment with your doctor. Before getting physical,
get a physical! Your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers will be
your starting point. High LDL cholesterol (the goopy stuff the sticks
to the walls of your arteries), elevated blood pressure and blood sugar
can be remedied through eating well and exercising regularly. It is
incredibly gratifying to witness progress on the inside, which
inevitably will translate to looking great on the outside. Make health
your priority, and the rest will follow.
Accept Your Realities. As someone who lacks the
genetically gifted glutes of Beyonce, I can sympathize with those whose
derriere dreams have been dashed. It is important to love your body,
work hard and accept what your body can do. I love to squat, lunge and
sprint because it makes me feel strong and confident and I have come to
grips with the fact that my tush may forever ebb on the side of toast
rather than bodacious buns. Once you accept your body and are grateful
for the amazing work it can do, you will start to have a better
relationship with yourself. Though this is not to say you shouldn’t
push yourself. Hold yourself to a higher standard but don’t berate
yourself for not filling out a pair of jeans like a Kardashian. As
humans, we must accept our realities. When losing weight, it is
impossible to target specific body parts to reduce. Your body loses
weight where it wants, just as it gains weight where it wants - plain
and simple. Therefore doing sit-ups will not whittle away your waist,
just as running will not guarantee smaller thighs. It is for this
reason, that it is important to incorporate a full-body training program
in order to see overall results in your physique and fitness
abilities.
All or Nothing. Don’t scrap your workout session
because you can’t make it to the gym. If thirty minutes trucking it on
the treadmill sounds impossible after a long day at work, then mold your
workout to your lifestyle. If your Tuesday night is occupied with
taking the kids to soccer practice, then adjust your day to accommodate
fitness in your routine. For example, try splitting up your exercises
into ten-minute brackets throughout the workday. Most offices have
stairwells. Spend ten minutes at the start of your day walking or
jogging up the staircase. It will get your blood pumping, and naturally
aid in increased blood circulation to the brain, which will promote
more productivity in your day. Set aside ten minutes before lunch to go
for a stroll outside and breathe in some fresh air. Finally, as soon
as you get home from the office crank out ten minutes of push-ups,
planks and squats. If you cannot find the time, it is your
responsibility to make the time. You will look and more importantly
feel better because of it.
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