So you want to learn how to successfully get in shape? Here is a major insider’s tip. Take it slowly, step by step. As a normal part of my health and fitness history forms that I have new clients fill out, I ask about fitness goals. Many people start off their new fitness programs by setting their immediate goals at unrealistic levels. They proclaim that they will eat only healthy food, take supplements, and go to the gym every day. Most of the time this just leads to failure and winding up right back where they started, if not worse. There is usually a deepened feeling of lower self esteem and lack of confidence in their fitness journey,
I firmly believe that if you change one thing at a time, there is bound to be better long term success rates. I usually ask for just 2 short cardio sessions a week for beginners. Once that client can accomplish that, we can add another strength session. I look for 3-4 weeks of actually completing each goal. Then we add something else. The rule is to master acquiring the new healthy habit. Then we can add a new one.
There are, of course, countless healthy habits that would be in most people’s best interests to acquire. Let’s name just a few, which would be a good starting platform.
1. Include flexibility exercises in your daily regimen.
2. Eat more vegetables and fruit
3. Drink the generally accepted 8 cups of water daily.
4. Exercise for 30 minutes each day.
5. Try to sleep 7-8 hours every night.
Now suppose your first habit you are planning to start is to drink 8 cups of water. How sure are you that you can accomplish this for the next 3-4 weeks? If it is less that 90%, then we must adjust the goal. How about 7 cups of water? How about 6 cups of water? Continue making slight adjustments until the client can confidently say they are 90% sure they can accomplish the goal.
This method can take awhile but it is a surefire way for people to finally change their lives and be successful in their fitness programs. That, of course, is the ultimate goal.