4 Tips for Accomplishing Fitness Goals

No matter how old or how unfit a person is, there is always an opportunity to start fresh and finally become the wonderful, productive, healthy, happy person they've always wanted to be. The trouble is, the enthusiasm to make changes, especially with exercise and diet, tends to fade once the person realizes they can't change everything overnight. If one of your clients wants to make a positive change in the right direction, have them follow these suggestions:  

Adjust Your Attitude

If you have the wrong attitude about exercise, you may be setting yourself up for failure. Many people perceive exercise as:

• Punishment for bad eating
• An obligation
• Painful
• Time consuming
• Impossible to sustain over a long period of time
• Boring

Before beginning your new exercise program, think of exercise as…

• A break from a stressful workday
• A way to boost energy and mood
• The only time you'll have to yourself all day
• A chance to get totally physical and let your mind rest
• A chance to reward your body working so hard for you all day
• A way to improve your quality of life immediately

Here are some ways that you can be sure your goals of becoming fit will be accomplished:

 

1.  Don’t rely on willpower alone.

Willpower is for short-term success. Long-term success requires planning, discipline and finding ways to motivate yourself every day.

 

2.  Motivation will not magically happen.

What motivates you will change from day to day. You have to recommit to your goals each day, tweak them to fit changes in your lifestyle and attitude, and find new ways to motivate yourself over the course of your entire life.

 

3.  You will not always want to exercise and eat healthy.

Even the most committed exerciser doesn't always want to exercise, and those who maintain a healthy weight eat foods now and then that might surprise you.  Don’t be afraid to eat and enjoy your favorite foods once in a while.  Aim to choose the healthier food choice more times than not, and to be active most days of the week.

 

4.  Diets and radical exercise plans don't work.

Don’t waste time following someone else's plan for you.  Make your own plan based on realistic changes--if you can't follow your chosen diet or exercise routine six months from now, chances are you won’t be on it for long.

 

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