January has come and gone, and so have most people’s New Year’s Resolutions.
The year usually begins with a flurry of activity … new workouts, a new diet, a fresh start.
And by the time February arrives, most of us have run out of gas (and motivation) and fallen back into our old habits.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
You see, when I speak with people who’ve fallen out of their fitness routine (or not started one in the first place), they often blame a “lack of motivation.”
But motivation isn’t the problem.
Not having a plan is where most people go wrong.
And by plan, I mean one that has the following qualities:
It’s Simple: If you make things complicated, you run the risk of losing interest and/or getting discouraged when it gets too hard to follow. Start with one thing you’re at least 80% confident you can do consistently for 2 weeks, then build from there. And if you’re less than 80% confident, make it easier … and simpler.
It’s Realistic: If, like most people, you’re busy with work, school and/or kids, working out six days a week probably isn’t happening. Once you realise that you can get great results with about three workouts a week, another day or two of a light physical activity you enjoy, and making your meals a little bit healthier, it makes the process a whole lot easier.
It Has A Deadline: If your goal is to lose 10kg, start smaller. A 90kg man following a well-designed exercise and nutrition program about 80% of the time will lose an average of ½ kg per week. So try to do a little better than average and set a goal of losing 2kg in your first month. You’ll gain momentum and confidence, create some habits that will stick and will be less inclined to give up when things get challenging.
If you’ve struggled in the past with your fitness, motivation probably wasn’t the problem. Try taking small, consistent actions instead.
Yours in health and fitness,
Chris
