Don’t get discouraged!!!
This is a short article addressing one of the biggest hurdles people face when trying to achieve their health and fitness goals. It’s easy to figure out what you would like to achieve and where you would like to be in 6 months, a year or two. What is not so easy is making that journey from where you are now, to where you want to be. The most important thing to remember is that there is a lot to be learned on that journey, and perhaps the result you end up with may fall a little short of your ideal, but remember that each of us is unique and different. What is ideal and healthy for your body may look different from the next person.
Things to remember:
- Do NOT get discouraged!
If you have a bad day/week, remember the journey you are on and keep moving forward. It’s so easy to let one slip up sabotage you entirely. We are all bound to have days and weeks when we do not stick entirely to the plan, but as time goes along and ‘the plan’ becomes more and more a part of your regular routine, you will find you slip out of it less and less.
- Do NOT compare yourself to the next person.
We are all different and unique. We all have our own genetic make up, which for better or worse will to some degree influence our outcome. You may find that fit and healthy for you is not necessarily what you envision, but it’s the best for your body. You may have inherited health issues that work against your desire to be fit an healthy, but remember that we all do the best with what we have. You will always be better off, fitter, healthier and happier when you eat and live a healthy lifestyle.
- Think positive!
Don’t allow negative thinking patterns to influence you on a day to day basis. Tell yourself how well you are doing, and how much healthier you are getting daily. When you have a good day or week, be proud of yourself. When you have a bad day or week, brush it off. Tomorrow is a new day, and you get a do over!
- Keep track of your goals and make the achievable.
Listing your goals, and tracking your progress towards them is important to help you stay positive and encouraged. Even if you gained a few pounds, you can look back and see that you still have an overall weight loss – if weight loss is your goal. Give yourself achievable goals. For weight loss, 1 1b a week is recommended. Losing too much too fast can result in weight being gained back. Remember that 1 1b of weight is equal to 3500 calories. So all you have to do is burn 500 more calories a day than you eat to lose 1 1b weekly. You can burn 3-500 calories during a good workout!
- Keep moving.
No matter what, it’s important to keep your body moving. Whether you have missed a few classes due to scheduling issues, or took some vacation, your body still needs to move. Walking, jogging, cycling, swimming are all easy things to do and can be fun even when you are vacationing. Don’t take a vacation from exercising, that should be part of your every day along with making good food choices. If you have to sit for hours at a time for work, make a point of getting up and walking around every 45 minutes or so.
- Surround yourself with people who encourage you.
Try to be with people who are like minded or who will encourage your efforts. There will always be those who are negative about fitness and health since they haven’t managed to incorporate it into their lives, and resent others who have. The mind body connection is very real, and when you feel good physically it will positively affect you psychologically as well. Then you will be someone who can encourage others to take charge of their health and fitness.
In conclusion remember the bullet points above. Write them somewhere you see every day and remember to actively follow them as you work towards your goals:
- Don’t get discouraged
- Don’t compare yourself to others
- Think positive
- Keep track of your goals and keep them achievable
- Keep moving
- Surround yourself with encouragers