In the beginning; tips to getting off your butt and on your way

I spend a lot of time thinking, planning and making lists. If you could see the number of post-its i’ve used, you’d report me to Greenpeace for solely destroying a rainforest. But good has come from this odd behaviour – after speaking to others and making use of the afformentioned post-its I have compiled a list of tips that have may be useful to you if you’re looking for a kick start this year, but don’t know where to begin. I will be using them myself to get me on my way. Feel free to post anything that has helped you too Decide your overall goal, then break this down into smaller, more managable targets. Have an incentive to keep you on track, whether it’s a photo of before or of something you’re aiming for. Then put it in a place you can see it every day. Be realistic – seriously, there’s nothing worse than having a goal that secretly, deep down you know is unachievable. But equally you know what you are capable of, this won’t be a walk in the park, you will have to PUSH yourself. But it is SO going to be worth it! Keep a food and fitness diary. No this is not lame, and no you don’t have to ever show it to anyone or let anyone see you write in it if you don’t want to, but I hugely recommend it. If you think you can mentally keep track of everything you eat, drink and burn off in a day, think again. Chances are you’re underestimating. This has helped me no end and I’ve already made my diarys up for the next three months. Plan ahead, particulary for events in your diary – I personally cannot plan a week’s meals upfront. But when I’m going out for a meal I tend to have a quick look at the menu before hand and work out the rest of my meals that day to incorporate it sucessifully. Don’t beat yourself up if you ‘slip up’ you’re only human! Just get back on it with your next meal and training session. If you can, invest in a heart rate monitor, it’s more accurate than those ones on the machines in the gym, you can take it out on a run and it gives you an idea of how hard you’re really pushing yourself. Train with a friend if you can, or at least have someone you can talk to if you’re struggling. Positive thinking is key! Take each day/goal as it comes, it can be overwhelming if you look at the big picture sometimes, especially if you feel you have a long way to go. Smaller targets break it up and also give you the incentive to move on as they show you the progress you are making. Know your weaknesses and how to overcome them; whether its a type of food, exercises you don’t like or particular events/people that hinder your progress. I have quite a few so it’s going to be challenging! Have a fitness program to follow, there’s nothing worse than having the energy to work out and then wasting that time with ineffective exercises that make little difference! Theo at TMW Fitness can help you out here if you’re struggling. Have a look at his blog for tips, you can see his great transformation in the last 12 weeks and he’s happy to answer any questions you have regarding fitness and nutrition. Don’t get too obsessed! Please please please don’t get into weighing yourself every day, you are setting yourself up for an emotional rollercoaster. Go by how you feel and how your clothes fit, by all means weigh yourself but no more than weekly and don’t let that number take a hold of your life! And for goodness sake don’t take you BMI as gospel. It’s a guideline, nothing more! Perfectly healthy people can read as obese due to the fact it doesn’t take into consideration bone density or muscle mass….one of my pet hates….had you noticed?! Make sure you enjoy it! Eat foods you like and choose exercise you enjoy. If you hate it you’re probably not going to stick to it for long! Incorporate a bit of resistance training into your routine, you don’t have to be stuck on a treadmill for hours on end to get fit and healthy. And if you are female you are not I repeat ARE NOT going to end up like some beef cake the moment you pick up the weights. At worst you’ll end up being stronger than some of the blokes you know, and at best you’ll end up looking and feeling amazing! It really is quality not quantity here. See Theo’s post on Exercises You Should Do But Probably Don’t. Rest well, getting enough rest time from exercise and enough sleep are so important for your sanity and your body. You’ll crash and burn if not. Celebrate each milestone; once you reach each of your goals, reward yourself with something….other than food! Find a way to track your progress. If you have a polar heart rate monitor you can track progress online, the app My Fitness Pal is also good – it’s online too. Look into it, there are various ways to do so. It’s motivating when you can see progress The list can go on, but that’s it from me for now, hope this is helpful, it is for me! :)

Posted on Tuesday, 14 February 2012 08:18AM by BeckieG Website Link: http://talesfromthegymfloor.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/in-the-beginning-tips-to-getting-off-your-butt-and-on-your-way/ Tags: Useful Tips, Lifestyle, Health, Fitness

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