It’s time to stop messing around and start reaching your fitness goals. Forget about everything else that is holding you back, and learn about the 10 keys for a successful fitness program.
1. Goal Setting
It’s time to start setting SMART goals instead of flimsy “I want to” goals! A bad goal: “I want to get in shape!” A good goal: “I’m going to walk 30 minutes per week for 6 months to improve my overall health.” Make your goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-limited (S.M.A.R.T.).
2. Reward Yourself
It’s okay to reward yourself when you lose weight – however, don’t use food as a reward. For example, after your 30th consecutive workout, go out and get those nice gym shoes you were eyeing or a new pair of stylish sunglasses you’ve been wanting.
3. Log Your Progress
Keeping a daily log of your times, weights, and reps will help you visually see the progress your making. You might look in the mirror and not see results, but looking in your journal and seeing increasing weight and time on the treadmill can help motivate you.
4. Keep A Steady Pace
Don’t throw yourself in the gym 2 times a day for the first 7 days you’ve ever had a gym membership. This is a sure-fire way to burn yourself out in no time. Gradually increase your time in the gym, or time exercising at home.
5. Find A Partner
Finding other people to workout with can push your fitness to greater levels, and help get you off the couch when you really don’t want to go to the gym. Workout buddies can help keep you accountable and challenge you to be better.
6. Do A Fitness Evaluation
A fitness evaluation can quickly show you what needs the most work. Whether it’s strength, flexibility, balance, aerobic conditioning, or something else.
7. Buy The Proper Equipment
Don’t go and blow your savings on a full set of dumbells from weights 2.5-180lbs. This will break your bank and you surely don’t need ALL of those dumbells. Get a gym membership and slowly accumulate the equipment you use most to move slowly out of the gym and into your home (or another workout area).
8. Be Ready To Work Hard
Exercise shouldn’t ever put you in gut-wrenching pain, but it will definitely make you sweat and wonder if you made the right decision. Here’s the deal: You MADE the right decision, but it’s not gonna be easy.
9. Find Someone Who Inspires You
Choose someone close to you or a celebrity that is more dedicated than anyone you know. If you don’t have a buddy by now, challenging yourself to be better than your selected “hero” can improve results and help you achieve your goals.
10. Learn More
The more you learn about fitness and health, the more fun you’ll have exercising/cooking/living life. Keep up with the trends, new information, and recipes by subscribing to Chief Health! (Psst… we will give you a free Authorized Shopping List too!)
