Starting a fitness regimen is easy, but sticking with it to make it a part of your lifestyle is not. Part of the problem is that the fitness model people use is simply not sustainable at times. They may push themselves too hard to expect too much from themselves at the start and not be able to keep up. Then they get depressed about their failure and have trouble getting back on track.
So, we are going to give you some pointers no how to make your fitness lifestyle sustainable so that you can reap long-term benefits.
Set Reasonable Goals
You definitely want to set goals for yourself if you are going to maintain your body and health. You want to make sure those are achievable goals for you, though. Be careful about stealing someone else’s goals, because what works for them may not work for you, and it may be tough to keep up with what they are doing.
One way to set a goal for yourself that you know you can keep is to weigh yourself and then determine to stay around at weight for the next few years. You should give yourself a leeway of a few pounds either way, if you do this, because having some wiggle room is key to making sure you don’t stress over every little thing and are not weighing yourself multiple times a day.
Stay Focused
Another problem that people run into when they try to maintain themselves is losing focus as time goes on. Sticking with the regimen you have created can be tough when new hobbies enter your life or something major in your life changes. If you get into new relationship or you switch jobs, then this can affect your schedule. You have to determine to stay focused and to keep on doing what you are doing.
It may be necessary to change the time of day that you exercise or rescale your dieting plan to fit your new schedule. Sometimes in order to focus better, you have to refocus occasionally. This could mean reassessing your goals and your schedule and making sure there is always time for working out and eating right in your daily life. As you see yourself veer away from the goals and routine you have set up for yourself, you need to take a long, hard look at what you are doing and see if any adjustments need to be made.
Start the Day Right
The most important decision you make during your day tend to be right at the start. The way you start the day is often the way you end it, so if you wake up with a great attitude, the you are likely to have that same attitude all day. Likewise, if you eat healthy for breakfast, then you are more likely to eat healthy for other meals. If you get in some exercise in the morning, then it is easier to do exercise in the evening, because it has already been an established part of your day.
Find Healthy Foods You Love
No one will stick with a diet for too long if they are eating food they hate. You need to understand what your preferences are and what kind of food you can tolerate and enjoy. You don’t have to stick to a diet plan you found if the foods there are not appealing to you. Keep looking until you find a diet plan that fits your tastes, or you can simply find substitutes that work just as well that are more tolerable for you.
For instance, if you hate onions but they are a part of your chosen diet, then you can substitute them with celery. Chicken can be substituted with turkey, and cow’s milk can be substituted with soy milk or goat’s milk. You should enjoy the foods you are eating, and if you do some looking, you can find alternatives for some of those that you are supposed to be eating but simply do not enjoy.
Find an Exercise You Like
You should also enjoy the physical activity that is part of your healthy lifestyle. Not everyone needs to stay inside and do crunches and burpees. You may find that you would rather run 30 minutes a day instead of doing aerobics for 10 minutes. You are more likely to stick with an activity if it is something that appeals to you.
Buy the Right Equipment
You also need to ensure you are using safe, reliable equipment that helps you get the most benefits out of whatever activity you are doing. Take running for example, if you use resources like Jogging Addiction to source the best in running equipment, then you are less likely to sustain an injury or feel uncomfortable when you are working out. Do the research to find what the professionals are using and then make an investment to buy the right equipment. That way, it will be much easier to keep up your healthy lifestyle.