How to Get Started On Your
Personalized Exercise Program
Have you ever started out a new fitness regime with gusto and commitment, only to drop out, disappointed in yourself two months later? I hear many clients say that they simply lack the self-discipline to stick with a program longer than a couple of months, usually because they are easily bored, or not getting results quickly enough.
In my opinion, the number one reason why people fail at their fitness goals and give up is because they have misidentified their goals. All too often, clients set goals such as “I want to lose weight” without considering the steps they will need to commit to in order to follow through and achieve their goal. Many of us have it in our heads that we will eat right or exercise just until we’ve lost weight. Then we can revert into our old sloppy habits until we have to go on another exercise and health binge. viewing proper nutrition and exercise as a temporary solution to a temporary problem is what leads most people into the yo-yo dieting cycle. The loss of muscle when dieting, coupled with a gaining of fat when not dieting, can have serious affects on one’s metabolism. And it can also leave us dissatisfied, softer, and more disappointed in ourselves than ever.
Simply changing some of the messages we give ourselves can change our approach to fitness, and make it easier for us to achieve real success—long term success. People have a difficult time identifying the changes in their behavior and routine that they must make. But this is where one must start. We don’t like to commit to long programs or memberships. We prefer to try something for a while, and then renegotiate whether we really want to continue or not. Unfortunately, it is during this process of negotiation with ourselves that we give ourselves permission to give up. Thoughts may include, “I’m trying, but it simply isn’t working.” Or “I gave it a shot, and now I’m tired of it” or “There’s no way I can keep up this pace!” All too often, we start off a fitness, diet, and lifestyle change routine in a big way, and then quickly burnout, overwhelmed by all the change. Fitness and Health does NOT have to be an “all or nothing” proposition. Why start exercising and eating right and stopping smoking all at the same time? For those of us who have been inactive and careless about our eating habits over a long period of time, what makes us think that we will be able to completely change the routine of our lives and maintain that for any length of time?
Instead of starting out in a big way, and then burning out, I suggest that you implement one small change per week, over the course of three months. Commit to only increasing your water intake the first week. Then add another small change, like cutting back on late-night snacks. The next week, you may decide to begin an exercise routine of 3 days per week, and after that you can begin to cut out fatty meats, or reduce caffeine intake, etc. If you do this, you will be much more likely to follow through, maintain your good habits, and will feel less deprived and punished.
Introduce one small change per week, and the lifestyle changes that you desire will happen, and will last for a lifetime.