When it comes to fitness, you probably have an end goal in mind: a certain weight, what you want to look like, or what you want to be able to do. But in the real world, getting real results can be tough. As full-time trainers, we see so many people with steely resolve and solid goals fall short and fade away before reaching them.
By studying what happens in the real world, we have come up with a list of three habits we know will help you live a healthy lifestyle through your golden years. Let’s put you on the path to finally achieving success!
1. Be consistent with exercise.
If you do well for a while, then quit, then come back full bore, then quit again, the on-off cycle won’t get you where you want to be. Consistency creates real rewards.
Sometimes, vacations or holidays can disrupt your exercise patterns. The key is to put your exercise day in your calendar, for one or two days after you return home (for our UpLift members, that means scheduling an appointment with a trainer, which is included in their membership). Coming to the gym right after returning from a vacation or immediately after the holidays, gets you back into the groove so you stay consistent.
Another of our anecdotal but, we think, important observations: one of the secrets of those who work out consistently is that they go to the gym even when they don’t feel like it. We hear it time and again: “I really didn’t feel like coming, but I feel so great now that I’m done and glad I came.” You can capture that feeling, too.
2. Don’t give in to the classic excuse, “life gets in the way.”
Sure it does. For everyone. But only if you let it. Consistent exercisers don’t let life get in the way of this important activity. Exercise only takes three to four hours a week.
3. Find your why.
This is a buzz phrase for good reason. What is your ultimate goal? To be able to ski better, to enjoy your favorite hobbies longer into life, or just be strong and healthy as you age? Determine what you really want and that will greatly help you stick with it.
Your ‘why’ will stay top of mind and keep you going.
If you do not like working out, think hard and do some soul-searching about why. What is it about exercising that you don’t like? Some people don’t like sweating. Some people don’t like exerting the effort. Try hard to convince yourself that exercise is important enough to do, whether you like it or not.
You will find success if you find consistency!
