Staying motivated key to reaching fitness goals
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Motivation is definitely the key to sticking to a diet or fitness routine, and different things work for different people. Setting your mind to achieve a goal might come from an event coming up such as a wedding, high school reunion or beach vacation, or it can come from simply realizing how much better you look and feel when you exercise than when you don’t.
An interesting survey of 21,750 readers by Consumer Reports (CR) revealed how successful exercisers reported fitting workouts into their day and how they kept at them, day after day. Their tips:
• If you want to get into shape, but time is an issue, then you can fit workouts into your life in small chunks instead of all at once. When they took an honest look, at least one-fourth of respondents were able to find time for regular exercise although they had full-time jobs, young children at home, or both. Even 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there each day are enough to start reaping benefits and get you into the habit of being more physically active.
• You needn’t already be in good shape or at a good weight to join a gym. Walking was by far the most widely practiced fitness activity of the successful exercisers and led to a consistent pattern of staying more physically active. If you want to add other types of exercise down the road when you are ready, so much the better.
• Weight lifting is not just for bodybuilders.
Where to begin:
• Brisk walking is the exercise most experts recommend first.
• Find activities that you enjoy.
• Pick an activity that stands the greatest chance of fitting into your schedule, and be willing to be adaptable such as trying new workouts from time to time.
• If you do decide to join a gym, commit to it.
• One of the most striking differences between successful and unsuccessful exercisers was their use of weights or other equipment designed to increase strength. Thirty-one percent of the successful exercisers did resistance training at least three times a week, compared with 3 percent of unsuccessful exercisers.
Whether it’s diet or exercise, having the right mindset will always lead you in the right direction. Surround yourself with positive people, hold yourself accountable and be willing to accept that as long as you keep trying you will reach your goals.
Marjie Gilliam is a personal trainer and fitness consultant.