Everyone needs a little motivation sometimes. So here are 10 tips that will help you stay motivated and productive on your way to achieving your fitness goals in 2010.
1. Set Realistic Goals. Set achievable, realistic goals. In some instances, like weight-loss, it makes sense to set a short term goal as well as a long term goal. Short-term goals give you the motivation to keep going while the long-terms goals let you know where you’re headed.
2. Start Slowly. I know when you are excited and starting out it is easy to jump in full force, but if you push too hard too fast you could end up with an injury and be forced to abandon your exercise routine or you may get burned out. It’s best to start slowly and progress gradually.
3. Variety Variety Variety. It is so easy to get bored when you are doing the same exact routine week after week, so much so that you don’t even want to think about exercise. You need something that you will look forward to and keep you excited about working out. Vary your activities, whether it be walking, running, swimming, playing tennis, an aerobic class, or weight training just to name a few.
4. Have Fun. You’re much more likely to stick with any kind of exercise routine if you are doing something that you enjoy. So try different activities until you find something that you get excited about and look forward to doing, you might also want to get a friend involved!
5. Make Physical Activity a Part of Your Daily Routine. Make exercise a part of your everyday lifestyle, there are no room for excuses. If we try hard enough we could always find a reason to put off exercise, you need to schedule your workouts like you would any other important activity.
6. Put it on Paper… or on Shrinking! Keep a fitness journal. Write everything in it each day: the food you eat, the exercise that you do, and your weight. (At Shrinking we call this the Journal) Being diligent in your record keeping is the best way to track your progress. Watching your weight shrink is a powerful motivator.
7. Get Others Involved. Everyone can benefit from daily exercise, not just the overweight. So get your spouse, kids, co-workers, friends and family involved.
8. Try Something New. A great way to stay motivated is to try a new activity or workout. Try a new sport or a different workout DVD.
9. Reward Yourself. No, this doesn’t mean going home and eat a big bowl of ice cream after a good workout. Instead, after you reach a goal you might want to get that new pair of running shoes you’ve been looking at or maybe some new workout clothes!
10. Be Flexible. Everyone needs a break sometimes, so if you occasionally need to take a day or two off that’s okay, the important thing is to get back on track as soon as you can.
Now that you are pumped up it’s time to get moving! Set your goals and make exercise apart of your daily life!
The Shrinking Team
Weight-Loss is Hard, We’re Here to Make it Easier
True weight-loss success comes from a basic understanding of metabolism. Metabolism is the rate at which your body uses energy or burns calories. Your body will expend energy no matter what you are doing, even when you are asleep. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the rate at which your body burns calories while at rest. BMR decreases with age and with the loss of lean body mass. Increasing your muscle mass increases your BMR.
