It’s easy to say you want to get in better shape, but it’s much more difficult to develop a diet and sustainable workout plan you can stick to over a long period of time. Consistency is the most important element of training, so it’s critical to find something that works for your schedule, budget, and current physical condition. These tips will help you build an exercise plan you can commit to in order to achieve the long-term results you’re looking for. The psychological side of working out is just as relevant as the exercise itself. Improving your exercise habits is arguably the most critical step toward getting in better shape.
Being Realistic
If you’ve spent any time learning about fitness, you’re probably familiar with programs that promise incredible results quickly. While a small percentage of people experience rapid weight loss and/or muscle growth, it generally takes much more time to reach your goals. Furthermore, experts typically recommend limiting your losses to two pounds per week to avoid losing too much lean muscle mass. With that in mind, you shouldn’t go into a new sustainable workout plan expecting immediate results—this will only lead to disappointment and make it more difficult to maintain your motivation.
Staying Motivated
Staying motivated over weeks, months, and years is one of the toughest challenges involved in working out, and people lose motivation for a variety of reasons. If you try to start too quickly, for example, you might feel overwhelmed or exhausted and simply give up on exercising. Similarly, we often compare our own performance to that of people with much more exercise experience. The crucial thing is to consider your own situation and give yourself time to adjust to your new sustainable workout plan.
While it sounds silly, treating yourself to a stylish pair of comfortable sneakers or a fitness watch can be just the visual queue to motivate you. If you fold your fitness clothes and put your new pair of running shoes right by the door, it may just make the difference on a day you’d naturally shuck off your new fitness goals.
Improving Your Diet
Many people focus on the exercise side of fitness rather than their diet, but what you eat has a lasting impact on your physical and mental health. Even a consistent and rigorous workout plan won’t lead to your desired results if you’re canceling out those benefits with a poor diet. There are many different guiding philosophies when it comes to nutrition. That said, simply eating a balance of healthy foods is more important than adhering to a strict diet plan. Focus on incremental changes rather than trying to immediately transform your eating habits.
People typically feel extremely motivated when they start working out and eating better, but it’s easy to lose this motivation over time. These are just a few of the best ways to develop a personalized exercise and diet plan that matches your needs.
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