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Monday, January 10, 2011

Tips for Maintaining that "Get Fit" Resolution




Chances are, you’re doing pretty well on the ubiquitous New Year’s goal of “getting fit.”  You go, Diva!  But let’s be real:  we’re only 10 days into the New Year.  Here are some stellar ideas for sticking with your resolution all the way to day 365!
Can I have a Commitment, please?:  Yeah, you’ve “resolved” to do this.  But are you committed to making it happen?  If you want to accomplish your dream, you’ve got to devote some time, energy, and effort!

Set realistic goals:  I don’t mean only asking yourself to work out once a week by taking a 45 minute walk.  Divas need way more than that to achieve “fit” status.  I do mean: don’t say you’re going to lose 30 pounds in a month.  You may be able to realize this goal, but any way you get there will be unhealthy.  If you want to lose 30 pounds, give yourself 3 1/2 months to do it... that’s a little more than 2 pounds a week.  Any more than that, and experts agree it’s doing your body more harm than good.

Start Slow:  If you’ve not been actively exercising, work your way into it.  In my divaness, I think I can always jump in 100% from the get - go and work it like Jillian Michaels.  By doing this, though, I’m setting myself up for failure.  You’ll stick with your workouts longer if you allow your body time to heal between exercise sessions.  Start with 2 sessions for the first 2 weeks, then 3 sessions for a month, and finally up to 4 or 5, if that’s your goal.

Either/Or, Neither/Nor:  If maintaining a healthy meal plan is also one of your aims, try doing one or the other (healthy meal plan OR exercising) for the first month or two.  Do both and you’re likely to burn out quickly and grab Ben and Jerry’s on your way home from a difficult workout.  

Like it or Leave it:  ff you hate going to the gym, don’t force yourself to do that!  There are plenty of other ways to get fit.  Join a bootcamp, go hiking, run on the beach, if you’ve got one near you, try Zumba, join a salsa class, for all I care.  My point is do what you like doing, or you’re not going to be able to sustain it long term.

You Need Help:  Especially if you have no idea what you’re doing.  Book a session or two with a trainer, get a work out buddy for accountability, or talk to a friend who enjoys working out and get tips from them.  

Diversify your exercise:  This is great for a few reasons.  1) You’re less likely to quit out of sheer boredom.  2) The more methods of exercise you try, the better shape you’ll be in.  3)  Fitness is multifaceted, in fact there are 5 main components of fitness:  muscle strength, muscle endurance, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and body composition (body fat percentage to muscle percentage).  If you’ve got variety in your routine (ha! oxymoron!) you’ll be more likely to hit all five and therefore be a FITNESS DIVA.  

1 comment:

  1. Um...what if I didn't resolve anything about exercise? :) Hugs!

    ReplyDelete