Tips For Achieving Better Health and Fitness Goals

Simple pointers to help get better results from fitness programs and frequent prevent fall outs.

Ever wonder why some people are able to achieve their health and fitness goals better than others? Why they seem to be successful in adopting healthy practices as a lifestyle and demonstrate superior adherence and results while others struggle?

While the reasons could be varied, there appear to be some common threads that run across success stories. Some tips that could help you achieve similar results. These are by no means, carved in stone truths, but seem to work for most.

1) CHOOSE A TIME SLOT

Perhaps a better and more effective way to achieve your health and fitness goals is to do whatever program you follow in the mornings before you take on the multiple challenges of the day. It helps get the day started, could be a more regular time to follow and leave you relaxed in the knowledge that an important aspect of your day (and life) is done and tucked under your belt. You plan the day ahead rather than rush to get the activity going after a full day’s work. This in itself could be a big stress buster. Morning routines could help ensure better reorganization and regularity and that’s where the effectiveness and results lie. There is of course, no hard and fast time rule. If evenings or nights work for you, play on. Just try and pick a part of day that works best and stick to it as much as possible.

2) CHOOSE YOUR STYLE

You may choose to go it alone or join a group of like minded individuals in pursuit of your health and fitness activities. Select whatever suits your personality. If you can find a balance between the two formats, all the better. Being part of a focused group with similar goals imparts high energy and inspiration and makes falling out of the program more difficult by keeping motivational interactions steady, fostering new bonds and adding the fun factor to working hard.
Solo trainings allow deeper focus of another kind and are good for critical self assessment, self motivation and realigning of goals. These are also good for practicing mind control and focussing on inner power and strength.

3) BE PATIENT

Don’t rush through the process. Recognize and respect the learning curve and ease into progressions as and when the body keeps getting stronger. The mind may be willing and spirit aspiring but if the body is not geared to progress to the next level it could lead to immense frustration. You learn the alphabets first, then the words and sentence formation comes last. It’s quite the same process with fitness. Over reaching without due diligence and preparation will likely set you up for failure, lead to injuries and tempt you to drop out by making you feel negatively about the process and yourself in general. At the same time don’t settle into a comfort zone and stop trying hard to push boundaries. It’s a two way street.

4) CHOOSE PLANS WISELY

Be prudent in selection of eating plans and fitness routines. Frequently changing track indicates lack of focus and will not deliver expected results. The body takes time to adapt to changes be it with eating patterns or workouts. Impetuously jumping from one choice to another does not give one time to realize what works and what doesn’t. Be patient. The body does what it does. And it needs time for results to start showing.

5) WORK AT DISCIPLINE

You must know at the outset that the biggest challenge lies not in the miles run, the sets and reps of exercises or the pounds of weight lifted, but in DISCIPLINE – of being able to stick with it no matter how hard. That’s right, you need to focus on being disciplined in your approach to health and fitness to even think of being successful. By not making discipline your numero uno aim you are setting yourself up for failure in goal setting and achieving. As with all else, allow yourself time to make the necessary adjustments in your life to make this discipline become second skin. It will not happen overnight.

6) ENGAGE FOLKS WHO MATTER

Realise that it won’t be just you who needs to adapt. All those around you – family, friends, colleagues and whoever else is part of your life – will take time to accept that a change is underway and for them to start supporting you in the process by respecting your new lifestyle. While setting and pursuing goals you will have to factor this in and work your way around more than just your convenience. It can be achieved better by being open about your new plans and making them feel an important part of it. Give them credit. They will feel involved and keep helping you along.

7) BE SMART

Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. You cannot take a singular approach – just dieting or just following a physical routine – and get spectacular results. For optimal and long lasting results pay attention to both. It’s not uncommon to hear people crib that they diet and don’t seem to loose or keep the weight off and for others to wonder why they don’t seem to be getting results despite long hours spent working out. Be smart. Eat smart and work out smart. Make your effort count. Your life should not be about half baked meaningless pursuits.

8) BE REALISTIC

Don’t be paranoid about slip ups. Everybody needs a break and time out. It’s not the end of the world to not follow a routine for a bit. And certainly a slip up or break is no reason to abandon the plan altogether or for long. Taking breaks is good to rejuvenate the mind and not feel like life has become a dictatorial chore. Just make sure that you come back on track sooner rather than later. If healthy eating (not to be confused with deprivation and irrational or yo-yo diets) and physical activity are lifestyle practices rather than sporadic attempts you are in control and have little reason to worry.

9) BE MINDFUL OF SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE

Be very aware of the effects of social media. You probably have all kinds of people, at varying levels of health/fitness scale, adventure junkies and adrenaline guzzlers on your friends list. Follow them if you want but the idea is to get inspired, not overwhelmed. We all lead different lives with different objectives and different demands. We all also have our struggles which we hide while displaying only the good and snazzy. So introspect and figure out your goals, make a structured plan and then forget about what the world is doing and stick with it. Your happiness and sanity lies in knowing how you are progressing and not being comparative and overcome by the ‘likes’ or comments somebody’s display is fetching. As long as you are moving continuously forward you are doing GOOD. Thats what should count.

10) AVOID BIASES

Don’t be biased by such words while selecting your pursuits: “Right or Wrong” and “Best or Worst”. It’s all subjective. Parameters and goals (should) change as you progress so don’t limit yourself to preconceived notions or uneducated ideas. Ask somebody knowledgeable and trustworthy while selecting your course to follow. Suffice it to say, there is always scope to progress and there is always reason to go back to basics, in whatever it is you select to do.

Keeping these simple pointers in mind could help make goal setting and following easier and the journey more rewarding.

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TIPS FOR ACHIEVING BETTER HEALTH AND FITNESS GOALS