A busy schedule is among the common reasons stated by people who can’t seem to get on track, much less stay on track, with their fitness schedules. This isn’t surprising especially when doctors are more likely to emphasize the health benefits of exercise instead of providing patients with recommendations about the crucial “how-to” of exercise.
But let’s not dwell on things that we have failed to do in the past and start looking at things that we can do in the here and now to get and stay on track. Here are three of our recommended ways, all of which are easy to adopt yet deliver on effective results.
Make Specific Goals
While saying that you want to lose weight is a good start, you should be more specific in your goal. You will then have something concrete to aim for, such as losing 20 pounds of weight within a year.
You should also set a timeline for your smaller objectives. Your timeline can include the type of exercise and its duration, frequency, and intensity for each week, as well as the before-and-after weight.
Adopt a Realistic Attitude
When setting your goal, you have to be realistic about the tools and time available where you are concerned. You shouldn’t aim, for example, for 20 pounds of weight loss in a month because it’s unhealthy or choose swimming when the nearest gym doesn’t have a swimming pool.
You have to consider the possibility that you can be waylaid in your plans, too, such as when you fall sick. You should neither be disappointed in yourself nor discouraged to continue with your plan – just try to pick up where you left off.
Put Everything in Writing
And when we say everything, as many of the things that will affect your goal as possible. These include the following aspects:
- Your goal
- Your timeline for the objectives
- Your actual performance including the type and amount of exercises
- Your thoughts about your target and performance
- Your schedule for exercise
You can make a journal dedicated to your fitness journey, too, so that you don’t have to scrounge for paper every time. You will also be able to determine where you went right and wrong so that you can make the necessary adjustments.
You should also schedule your workouts at the gym, whether it’s Pilates classes at YogaWorks or weightlifting sessions at Gold’s Gym. You will be more likely to stick to your schedule when you placed it into writing, too, perhaps even in your smartphone alarm.