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Nimi Clare B.Sc., is a certified personal trainer, certified fitness consultant, certified group exercise instructor, and certified Pilates instructor.
Email her! nimi@mybindi.com
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Spring into Fitness
Talk, talk, talk and no action! Have you been talking about making a lifestyle change for X amount of years and nothing has happened? Or have you gone on a fad diet only to be disappointed that the diet has failed you? Talk no more; now is the time to take action. Below are some tips to get you started on making some healthy changes.
- Make it a habit. The first step to any exercise program should be to make it a habit. If for example your goal is to exercise 6 times a week and currently you’re not doing any physical activity then start at 3 times a week. If you jump into an exercise program in hopes to working out 6 times a week and then you only end up working out 3 times a week chances are you’ll lose your motivation and stop all together. To be on the safe side start with 3 times a week and if you can do more then that’s great.
- Set realistic goals and reward yourself for your hard work. Be realistic when you set your goals. For example, losing 1 pound a week is a realistic goal, whereas, losing 10 pounds a week is an unrealistic goal. Setting unrealistic goals and not accomplishing them can lead to decreased motivation. To increase your motivation set realistic goals and then reward yourself for achieving your goal. Reward yourself for achieving all your short-term goals as opposed to one reward for your long-term goal. This will help you stay focused and motivated.
- Find a support group. This doesn’t have to be a group out in the community; it could be someone right at home. These people can be family members or close friends. Tell them your goals and get them to ask you periodically how your goals are coming along. If you know someone is watching (in a good way) this will increase your motivation to work towards your goal. You will want to be able to tell them what you have accomplished.
- Buddy up. If you know someone that has a similar goal as you, buddy up with him or her. Sit down with them and set goals together, your goals may not be exactly the same and that’s okay. Motivate each other by tracking each other’s progress and using each other for support. You may decide to get together weekly or just call each other when you’ve had a rough day and feel like reaching for that bag of cookies. You may also decide to go for walks together or exercise together at the local gym.
- Educate yourself. Before you start yet another diet find out everything there is to know about it. Will I be able to maintain my new weight if I come off this diet? Is this a lifestyle change? Or, if it’s an exercise program find out the right way of doing each exercise. This will avoid injuries and damage to your body. Consult a professional trainer if you are unsure. You’re worth the cost!
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