The Road to Staying Fit

Making exercise a habit requires the right mindset and most of all commitments.

There are many detailed exercise instructions and workout plans at your fingertips. It’s up to you on how and when you plan to use them.

YOUNGER ME VS ME NOW

If you’re having trouble beginning an exercise plan or following through, you’re not alone. Starting a fitness routine isn’t always easy, especially when you can’t seem to find the time to exercise. Similar to many individuals, I often struggled getting out of sedentary lifestyle. Well, not anymore!

When I was younger, I often joined every marathon race my school held and had always been in the top 10. I’ve missed running marathons. On top of that, having two brothers who often work out at home has made me feel guilty about not doing the same for myself.

However, as I grew older, I wasn’t able to find the right time to get back on track. As a result, I began to eat mindlessly with poor dietary choices.

As I began to gain weight, I became envious of all the people around me who are fit and well. That’s when the guilt starts to eat me up as I wasn’t proud of the way I looked and feel about myself.

Instead of drowning myself in guilt and self-pity, I decided to take action and allow myself to feel better physically and mentally. With that aim in mind, I told myself if they can do it, I surely can too! Here’s how I did it.

HOW TO START EXERCISING AND STICK TO IT?

Many of you already know there are many great reasons to exercise. For instance, it helps to:

• Help with weight loss 
• Increase your energy levels
• Reduce risk of chronic disease
• Improve your mood and reduce anxiety, stress and depression.

If you’re considering exercising but don’t know where to begin, then you’ve turned to the right page. Here are three components that can help start your workout routine and ensure you stick to it! It surely has helped me as I’ve lost 13 kilograms (kg).

#1 SET A WORKOUT ALARM

You don’t need to download any fitness tracker to remind you of your workout time. The alarm application in your phone can do more than just wake you up. It can help alert you on your workout time.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

Set a time that suits your schedule and be sure that you’re free at the same time for the rest of the week. For instance, my alarm is set to 6.00 p.m. daily. Once you’ve set your alarm, be sure to stick with it and don’t snooze it off!

#2 HIIT (HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING)

If you’re new to working out, you might not be aware of the term HIIT.

HIIT is a form of cardio exercise done in short yet intense bursts with low-intensity recovery periods. It is a great form of exercise that you can easily include in your workout routine if you’re seeking to build strength or trying to lose weight.

This form of exercise is good for you because:

• It’s an effective way to burn fat
• Regulates your appetite. If you’re prone to overeating, HIIT causes a decrease in the amount of ghrelin (an appetite regulating hormone) which reduces your appetite.
• Increases the amount of oxygen your body can absorb in a minute.

#3 DIET PLAN

Having a meal plan will help you build healthy eating habits and reduce unhealthy snacking habits. On top of that, it gives your body the nutrients it needs everyday.

If you’re not too good at counting the calories of the food you eat, it’s okay. Instead, you can reduce your carbohydrate intakes and add more proteins into your diet.

Eating a good protein source makes it a whole lot easier to cut back on carbs, it’s particularly important if you’re trying to watch your weight.

Here are a few easy ways to reduce your carb intake:

• Eliminate sugary beverages.
• Cut back on white bread as they’re generally high in carbs and low in fibre.
• Opt for lean meats, such as sirloin, chicken breast, salmon and eggs.
• Leafy greens, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, eggplants, cucumber and bell peppers.
• Nuts and seeds
• Include fruits such as apples, blueberries, strawberries and more into your diet.

Following a healthful diet has many health benefits including weight loss. Plus, adding physical activity allows you to burn more calories than dieting alone.

With the right mindset and correct workout tips, I can proudly say that I’ve finally found a way that makes exercise an enjoyable part of my daily life.

Successfully making healthy changes has a lot to do with your attitude. I understand it can be difficult at the beginning, as I’ve been in your shoes. But, trust me when I say it’s possible.