The following article is one of a series of articles which focus on
Self Improvement, Motivation and Empowerment. It is based on research
done over twenty years as a personal and business coach. This self
improvement article was written in response to questions which have
been asked on losing weight and long term weight loss as well as address common challenges that people have with this subject. I sincerely hope that you find the following
information of value. How To Avoid Becoming A Fitness Failure Few
things are worse than trying to get your body into shape and failing.
It takes quite some courage to start on a fitness program and it takes
willpower to stick to it and avoid ditching it a couple of days later. Unfortunately,
more than half of the people who decide to take up a fitness program do
so on a whim and drop out within the first six months. Boredom, busy
schedules and a feeling of being fit enough to no longer need the
exercising combine to convince people that exercises are not worth the
effort and striving. The first thing you want to do in order to
avoid being a complete failure is to set a goal for yourself. If you
want to be thinner, then decide on a number of pounds you want to shed.
If you want to be able to run around the park without spitting your
lungs on the sidewalk, then train accordingly. But whatever you do, set
a clear goal so you don't have to guess whether you're making progress
or not. Also, make sure your goal is realistic. Dropping 1 pound
per week through a combination of reduced intake of calories and
increased physical effort is a realistic goal. Shedding 50 pounds in
two months is not just a dream, but the attempt may also prove
dangerous for your health. ========SIDEBAR========
When it
comes to the subject of self improvement, I fully understand (through
my own experiences) that it is a lot easier said than done. However,
you are here, right now, because you have a desire to improve your self
or you are at least interested in this subject. Perhaps you are reading
this to help a friend or colleague - great. If this article helps you
or you help a friend, paying it forward is what lif'e all about so we
all win.
======END SIDEBAR====== After
deciding upon a goal, always make sure you're keeping track of your
progress. This will help keep you motivated because you will always
have the visible proof of your success at whatever it is you're doing.
But bear in mind that tracking should also be done carefully. If
you're going for weight loss, don't give in to the temptation to weigh
yourself every day. Body weight fluctuates naturally from one day to
the other and depends on many factors. It's much too easy to be
discouraged and abandon the program just because two extra glasses of
water have messed up your weight. Keep your fitness schedule as
varied as possible. Exercises are great for your health, but only
hardcore bodybuilders are never bored by them. Doing the same thing
over and over becomes tedious sooner or later so make sure you mix your
exercises and change the order every week or whenever you feel boredom
starting to move in. Don't let yourself get to the point where
you say "Damn that exercise! I'm not going to do it again as long as I
live!". If you can't come up with a good plan, ask a gym trainer or a
veteran to help you out. The final advice is to share the joys
and problems of fitness with somebody. Find a friend who also goes to
the gym and start going together. You can help each other achieve your
goals and swap stories about successes and failures in between reps. A
workout partner will make things look easier with a positive attitude
and you can do the same thing for him or her. Oh, and don't allow yourself to come up with excuses for avoiding the gym. Cheap tricks like that are never any good. |
