Getting healthier and more fit does not have to be a full time job. You do not have to become an expert in the field or spend hundreds of dollars on books, DVDs and equipment. It does not have to be overwhelming or physically and mentally EXHAUSTING! Becoming more fit can actually be quite simple and fun! Take it from someone who has been in the fitness industry for almost 15 years and has lost a significant amount of weight myself, don't be so hard on yourself and don't make it all so difficult! Here are a few simple tips to help get you going on your path the health and fitness that you can start doing today:
1. Keep It Simple
Pinterest, Instagram, Google, magazines, TV, the list goes on as towhere you can find all sorts of ideas, tips and tricks to help you shed weight and get in shape. Often people will come to me totally confused with tons of questions from HIIT to macros, but are currently sedentary and eat fast food several times per week. Don't overwhelm yourself with the plethora of information (and ahem, misinformation) out there. You don't have to be an expert or know all the latest trends and terms of the industry to achieve success. Just.Get.Moving.And.Eat.Smarter! It's that simple. Get moving and clean up your diet. Don't necessarily go on a diet but see where you can make healthier swaps or eliminate those bad food choices. As far as exercise is concerned, if you haven't been doing anything, even just going for a walk or bike, or joining a group fitness classes is better than nothing. If you have been working out but not seeing results, just kick it up a notch. As your goals become more specific, then so should your training programming, but for the time being, just get moving and eating better today!
2. Make It Fun
Fitness doesn't always have to be torture! Finding activities that you enjoy not only make your fitness journey more fun, it also helps make you less likely to drop out. There are hundreds of ways to incorporate fitness into your lifestyle today that doesn't have to intimidate or hurt you. For example, if you like to walk or jog, consider joining a local running group for support and accountability. If you enjoy dancing, join a Zumba or hip hop class. And if you're into more challenging and athletic programming, that involves things like weights, ropes, kettlebells, etc., join group training classes like the ones we offer at our facility. Once you become more involved in fitness, especially in a fun group setting, you will be surprised at what your capable of and how eager you become to try new and challenging things to achieve even bigger results!
3. Track Your Progress
One of the biggest keys to success is measuring and tracking. Being aware and mindful of your nutrition and activity as well as tracking what progress you have made thus far is vital to achieving your goals. We suggest to our clients a FREE and simple to use app called MyFitnessPal. You can download the app right to your phone and track what your daily caloric intake as well as your caloric expenditure through exercise. Remember, what gets measured gets done. So make S.M.A.R.T. goals to stick to and track your progress daily in order to achieve success.
4. Share with Friends and Family
So you may not be where you want to be, but you are working hard to get there. Be proud! Share your journey with your friends and family. Get your own personal cheering section. Nothing great can be done alone, it takes support from the ones we love to help push and motivate us. There are several ways you can get your inner circle involved in your journey. Recruit a friend or family member to join your training and nutrition with you. Join a group of like minded individuals on the same journey. Post and share your progress and actives to social media. However you choose to share with friends and family your decision to take control of your health and fitness you will be sure to receive nothing but positive feedback and support. And also, believe it or not, you could serve as inspiration and motivation to others to do the same!
5. Stick With It
It won't always be easy. You will plateau. You will get discouraged at times. You will get burnt out and or bored with your programming eventually. STICK WITH IT! Find new ways to keep you motivated and challenged. When it becomes daunting, keep reminding yourself why you got started, what it means to you to achieve your goals and reflect on how much progress you have made so far. The decision get healthier and fitter is a life long commitment. Hang in there, continue to follow the above principles, seek professional help with your goals, take pride in what you've done and enjoy the journey. Nothing worth having comes easy and the harder you work for it, the sweeter the victory.
For more information, inspiration and motivation, follow Coach Christina on Instagram. Also, to stay up to date on promotions and happenings at CWSC Performance, like us on Facebook or give us a call at 407-960-4705.
