by Apryl Bantom
As a wellness consultant, one of the most common issues clients face is developing a consistent sustainable workout regimen. Many people do too much too fast, with the main gym rush being after the New Year. The vision of weight loss or weight gain begins to fade around March when working out 5 days a week for an hour isn’t possible due to time constraints, money, or wavering motivation. Most fitness professionals agree that intensity is the biggest factor that comes into play when working on fitness goals. However, if you exercise twice a month and suddenly start exercising 5 days a week it’ll be a drastic change to maintain especially at a high intensity, and any results you achieve in that brief time will be lost. Here are a few tips to consider when making the move towards a more active lifestyle:
Be realistic. Start small – If you haven’t exercised since your last gym class 4 years ago do not go to the gym with the “5 days for 60 minutes” type of plan. Pick 2 to 3 days a week for 30 minutes to 1 hour and commit to this schedule until it is second nature. This is a lifestyle change and you want to be able to do this for the long term.
Explore- In the big wide world of exercise there is something for everyone. Personally I hate the gym (it feels like a meat locker) but I love going to private studios. Most fitness studios offer their first class at a discount price; try downloading the MindBody Connect App to find local small studios that offer a variety of classes. If you prefer to move solo, look up home workouts on YouTube that you can do in a small space. The key is to find your sweat spot and work it!
Record- Technology today gives us the ability to quantitatively track our progress; the distance we walk, the decrease in heart rates, and the calories burned can all be monitored from our phone. You can also grab a notebook for a daily exercise log. This gives you a visual to see what works and where you can improve. It will also helps you to realize that there are number to be mindful of other than the number on the scale.
Get your mind right – whatever it is you have to do, do it! Read articles, follow fitblogs, have social support, mantras, music, rewards, or punishments to motivate you towards success. This is not going to be a quick and easy fix so be prepared to go through the gauntlet.
