How many times have you heard about the most AMAZING workout or BRILLIANT diet, tried it, and then
NOT managed to stick to it? If you are like most people, the answer will be lots!
Resist the urge to act like a bull in a china shop. Instead, introduce exercise and healthy eating gradually into your lifestyle. As you get comfortable with your new actions, gradually make things a little more challenging.
Build up your momentum slowly and you’ll find it much easier to stick to your new, healthy lifestyle.
New eating and workout plans are often promoted as being the best way to lose weight and get fit but, the reality is, consistency is much more important than the actual plan you follow.
For example, your eating plan might call for you to eat steamed fish and green vegetables three times a day for 30-days. Will you lose weight? Absolutely! But will you really be able to stick to such a boring, restrictive eating plan? Probably not! And if you do, what happens on day 31? A junk food binge?
Rather than seek out the best exercise or eating plan, you will get much better results if you find ways to make your actions more consistent. A good consistent average will produce better results than the occasional high. If you keep chipping away, you will get the results you want.
We can all struggle through unpleasant workouts or eating foods that are healthy but we don’t like – for a while at least. But then, when your willpower quits, it can be all-but impossible to force yourself to do things you really don’t enjoy.
The biggest enemy of consistency is difficulty. As soon as things get hard, it’s very tempting to just say “forget it!” and quit your eating or workout plan. The best way to avoid this is to create systems that make exercise and eating healthily easier.
There is ALWAYS an alternative way to make your eating or workout plan more enjoyable; you just need to seek it out. Once you find things you love to do, you’ll never need to use your willpower again!
Why do you want to get fit or lose weight? What are your underlying reasons for wanting to adopt a healthier lifestyle? People who have no clear-cut goals are much less likely to stick to their eating or exercise plan. They lack a driving force to keep them moving forward.
In contrast, those with a clearly defined “why” are much more likely to stay the course.
If you dread stepping into the same old workout wear, it’s no wonder you find it hard to get motivated to exercise. Buy yourself some flattering, functional workout wear that looks and feels good. It doesn’t matter if you are a man or woman, having exercise gear you enjoy wearing will make it easier to stick to your workout plan.
The key to making your fitness and weight loss efforts successful is consistency. Worry less about finding the perfect diet or exercise plan and more about taking daily actions that will improve your health and fitness. Consistency is king!
Here are FIVE ways to improve your consistency so that you are always moving forward toward your fitness and weight loss goals rather than away…
1. Balance healthy foods and fats
Whole unprocessed food such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins should make up the bulk of your eating plan, while fats should be a smaller portion. Be mindful that "sometimes" foods don't sneak into your eating plan and become "everyday foods".
2. Increase protein intake
Protein helps you feel fuller for longer. Protein is an essential macronutrient that helps build muscle, repair tissue, and make enzymes and hormones. Using protein powder may also aid weight loss and help people tone their muscles.
3. Control quantities
Pay attention to portion sizes and aim to eat appropriate amounts of food based on your activity level, age, and weight goals. It’s not about counting calories, it’s about making real changes. This way, you eat what your body needs, instead of mindlessly overindulging or starving your self.
4. Exercise can also help you smash your weight loss goals.
You can truly revolutionise your body, mind, and soul - whether or not you drop a size, lose an inch, shred a pound, run a kilometre, Walk the dog or be functionally fit to run after the little ones in your life
The revolution is this: begin to change your intention (BODY), your perspective (MIND), and your investment (SOUL) in small but significant ways.
Weight loss isn’t just about looking good – regular exercise reduces your risk of copping some chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and things like that. Your body will be better placed to defend against them.
Turns out that making sure you’ve used up lots of energy through the day is an excellent way to knock yourself out when it’s bedtime. It burns stress, too, which means you won’t be staring at the ceiling wondering what it’s all about in life. Instead you’ll be happily snoring away.