It’s not easy for a person to reach their fitness goals. It can take a lot of time and effort, and progress can seem slow. However, if there’s one thing to know, that it is very much achievable. There have been countless people who have transformed their fitness levels through dedication and hard work. And if they can do it, then so can you.
It’ll be an uphill battle. One trap to avoid falling into is making it more difficult for yourself than it needs to be. Oddly, this is something that happens all the time. Let’s take look at some of the common ways people sabotage their own fitness journey. Make sure you’re not guilty of any of them, and you’ll find it easier to succeed.
Choosing a Gym Far Away
It’s easy to get lured into signing up for a luxury gym. After all, if you’re going to spend time somewhere, then you’ll want it to be the best place. However, if that gym is located far away from your home or work, then it won’t be the best option for you. Why? Because you’ll never end up going if it takes thirty minutes to get there and back. The best option is nearly always the gym that’s closest to you. It’ll make it much easier to fit an exercise session into your schedule.
Waiting for the Ideal Time to Workout
Many people join a gym with enthusiasm and end up going multiple times in the first week. By week three, they’re barely going at all. That’s because they were relying on motivation, and that’s a highly slippery feeling. The trick is to commit to going to the gym on a set schedule. Without it, you’ll rarely make it out the door. The hardest part of going to the gym is leaving the house. So don’t even think about it — just get moving.
Setting Unrealistic Fitness Goals
It’s good to have fitness goals when you’re working out. However, those fitness goals should be realistic. If you’re aiming to get a body like Brad Pitt in Fight Club within a couple of months, then think again. It won’t happen! However, realistic goals are very much within your grasp. Start small, and slowly build yourself up. Who knows, you might find that you can eventually set targets that are ambitious by your level today.
Working Out Alone
You’ll see a lot of people working out by themselves. However, if you’re looking to push yourself, then it’s nearly always better to work out with other people. That’s because when you’re by yourself, you’re much more inclined to go home as soon as the going gets tough. When you work out with others, you’ll push through that feeling. It’s at that point where real progress begins to be made. Group exercises push you beyond yourself, plus, they’re just a good way to meet like-minded people. If you’re looking to reach your full potential, then sign up for a group-based fitness boot camp; it’ll make everything much easier.
Giving Themselves a Diet Pass
The odd cheat day is absolutely fine. Even The Rock has is tequila and pancake weekends. But if you’re using your gym exploits as an excuse to eat whatever you want every day, then it’ll be time to recalibrate. You’ll be much less likely to reach your fitness goals if you’re eating unhealthy food each day. Speak to fitness experts, and they’ll tell you what you eat is arguably just as important as what you do in the gym. The two go hand in hand. Look up some good-for-you meals that are easy to make, ideally one that you find to be delicious, and you’ll be eating well.
Expecting Overnight Results
If it were easy to get into shape, then everyone would do it. It takes time to build your fitness levels up. That’s part of the satisfaction of it all. Anyone who’s expecting overnight results will be sorely disappointed since it doesn’t work that way. You should begin to notice a difference within a month or two. But don’t focus too much on seeing the physical impact of your workout. Instead, just focus on the process. The results will come eventually. The mental health benefits, incidentally, will come pretty quickly. In fact, you’ll likely feel happier after your very first session.
Making the Process Painful
You’ll see a lot of gyms talking about how getting into shape is an arduous, difficult process. We’ve all heard the expression no pain, no gain. However, while there is a challenging aspect to getting into shape, it’s not as if the whole thing has to be an exercise in misery. If you’re suffering the whole time, then you’ll be much more likely to quit. So try to make working out fun wherever possible. It doesn’t have to be overly serious. Load up your favorite songs or podcasts, and dance around at the gym from one machine to the next if you feel like it.
Quitting When It Gets Difficult
There’s no doubt that at some point, you’ll need to dig deep. There’ll be times when it’ll be easy to skip going to the gym. Or you’ll fall out of the habit of going, such as around the holidays or when you go on vacation. It’s important to be mindful of these temptations to call it quits. Getting back into the gym in the new year after a week or so of indulgence can be difficult, for instance. The best approach is to simply ignore that negative voice in your head. Just commit to going, even if you have to act like a Sim that has no choice to get there.
Vague Goals
Finally, it’s best to come up with a target for your gym sessions. You might want to lose a number of inches or be able to lift a certain weight. Keeping that target in mind will be a reminder of why you’re going to the gym. Without it, you might at some point just give up because you don’t know why you’re going!
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