Create an Exercise Plan You’ll Stick To
We all know the best way to lose weight and live healthy is to have a good diet and exercise regularly. Here are some helpful tips to help you develop an exercise plan you can stick with.
Don’t be drastic. Making an exercise plan is great, but let’s be realistic. If you’re not a runner and try to run 5 miles a day, every day, you’ll find it hard to stick to the routine. You should start small and make gradual increases to your exercise plan. Start by working out 30 minutes a day, three days a week. Once you’ve stuck to that for a few weeks, then start working out for longer periods, harder workouts, or more days. Sure, your progress may be slower to start with, but you’re more likely to actually continue progressing.
Have some fun. Treadmills and stair machines are great ways to burn calories fast. They’re also great ways to get bored and stop going to the gym fast. If you’re bored and in pain, you’re much more likely to make excuses to skip your workout. Try new things till you find something you like. If you’re having fun while you work out, you’re much more likely to keep doing it.
Give yourself a reward. Is there a great new outfit you want, or an electronic device you just can’t live without? Develop a reward system for yourself, i.e. “if I stick to my workouts for two months, I can buy that outfit”. If this doesn’t work, try smaller rewards for smaller achievements like “if I work out three times this week, I get to see a movie”. If you find you’re rewarding yourself without achieving your goals, get someone you can depend on to hold you accountable.
Bring along a friend. People who work out with a buddy are a lot more likely to stick with an exercise plan. If you have a workout date set up, you’ll feel bad if you cancel it, so you’re more likely to go. You also have the benefit of a voice of encouragement pushing you along. Lastly, having someone there to talk to will make the time fly by faster and you’ll get bored less quickly.
Mix it up. We already know that getting bored can keep you from going to work out. Even if you really like a certain physical activity, you’ll probably still get bored with it eventually. Instead of doing the same exercise every time, find several activities you like and alternate them.
Get a personal trainer. Personal trainers are people you pay to not only develop the best exercise plan for your body and goals, they also help you stay on track by giving you tips, motivation, and are there to hold you accountable. Yes, personal trainers can be expensive, but if you’re serious about losing weight and sticking with it, it may worth it to trim fat in other areas of your budget. Plus, that money you spent will be more of a motivator to keep going.
Being healthy isn’t easy; and it will take a little time, but if you find a workout plan that works for you, you’re well on your way to a healthy, fit new you.