New Year, Old Exercise – Break the Chain
A little progress each day adds up to a big result
The beginning of a new year is always a time when people look at their fitness and health goals. Our first instinct is to think of killing ourselves with endless gym routines, hours of cardio and boring diets. This approach can be great for some people, but it certainly is not a one size fits all approach. The goal of becoming healthier and fitter should be tailored and realistic to you – after all, you want it to last and not be a flash in the unoiled pan! There are endless social media posts, headlines and fads with health & fitness, but how do you know what works for you? And how to make changes that you can sustain?
Don’t waste your money!
In the UK we waste over £4 million a year, in unused gym membership. If you’ve tried the gym before but not been able to stick to it, likelihood is you would have the same outcome if you tried again. Don’t waste your money, think about what you can build in to your daily routine and what you feel comfortable doing. HIIT workouts have become very popular, because of the ability to do it all at home with no, or little equipment. An internet search can help you find a workout at your level of fitness and something you can fit in to lifestyle.
Have Fun
Whilst not all exercise is fun, if you want to make a lasting change it’s important to do something you enjoy. This could be hiking, dancing, going back to a team sport you used to play or taking an exercise class. The main goal is to enjoy the feeling of having done it, we don’t always enjoy it in the moment! That is the key to keeping you motivated and coming back time and time again. It’s important to think outside the box, and find something you will enjoy.
Just the two of us, we can make it if we try
Fitness goals and changes are more likely to be achieved if they are done with a partner. Exercising alone can be boring, but going with a friend can keep you motivated and bring a social element to your exercise. Peer pressure can also be a good thing - it’s proven that exercising with other people pushes us to work harder than we would on our own.
Discover the motivation
Whilst the initial aim might be to lose weight, exercise needs to deliver on more meaningful goals for it to be sustained. Think about how exercise can help you achieve other goals, for example hiking could help you spend more time in the countryside, cycling to work helps your commute and cut costs. Thinking about how you build your exercise around a goal that, let’s face it, is more important to you, will keep you at it for the long term.
Try, try, and try again
It’s important to keep trying new things, and not to be afraid to fail! The first thing you try may not stick, but don’t let that put you off. There is a routine and exercise out there for everyone, and the main goal is to get moving, increase your heart rate and enjoy exercising!
There is so much advice out there, with a range of exercise routines that don’t fit the normal tips. Find what works for you, by first setting yourself some real goals that you want to achieve and that will keep you motivated. There are several tips on this in the book ‘No Sweat: how the simple science of motivation can bring you a lifetime of fitness’ by Michelle Segar – well worth a read if you are looking to genuinely change your exercise lifestyle.
