Success Doesn't Happen Overnight!

gwenmf

There are several reasons why people choose to exercise. Some people work out because they want their clothes to fit better, they want to feel good about themselves, and/or they want to feel more energized. Some people enjoy the social aspects of working out, such as pairing up with a friend to go to the gym or playing on a team. Others enjoy the structure and discipline of sticking to a strict workout schedule and keeping track of their own progress and development. And then there are those who get tremendous gratification out of their athletic abilities and are drawn to cultivating their skills further.

Do any of these resonate with you? In order to maintain the motivation to stick with any fitness plan, you need to figure out why you want to do this. Then to achieve your goal, you need to stategize.

Set goals, but be realistic and specific. Work toward attainable, short-term goals, such as adding five minutes to your treadmill time, running an extra half-mile, or losing three pounds. Make your goals as specific as possible and give yourself time to accomplish them. For example, while it might be realistic to decide that you're going to start running and set the goal of signing up for a marathon one day, the better approach is to vow to start running three days a week with the goal that by the end of the year you'll sign up for and complete a 5K race.

Find a time that's right for you. You wouldn't want to force yourself to go to the gym at 5 a.m. every morning and then feel miserable because you couldn't stick with that regimen. In the beginning, try working out at different times of the day — morning, lunchtime, after work, late at night — and see what works best for you. At what time was the workout most invigorating? What fits in well with your daily schedule?

Mix things up. Your body adapts itself to a workout; after a while you will no longer see results, and then your motivation will drop. Vary your workouts so that your muscles don't go on autopilot.

Sign up for an event or an activity club. Enter a race, join a local ski club, runners group, or a sports league. A race or competition can give you something to shoot for, and being part of a group will keep your enthusiasm up.

Hire a pro. You don't have to work out three hours every day with a professional to reap the benefits and knowledge of a personal trainer. A good trainer can help you identify and achieve realistic fitness goals and show you the most efficient exercises to attain results.

nikig7

Thanks...I appreciate this :flowerforyou: