Fitness should be a lifestyle not just a trend. Ask yourself this question, " After I do this diet, what next", after I finish P90X or Insanity, what next? I am not saying that these workout programs are bad, by any means, but I am saying that we must learn to make fitness apart of life and not just for a season to reach a goal and then have nothing else to strive for. Do you do P90X 2 or 3 more times until you get sick of it. We must begin to change our perspective on fitness if we are ever going to make health gains that last a lifetime rather than a season. Here are some tips I use with clients and in my own personal life to make Fitness last a lifetime.
Set a Goal: Before you even start to workout, make sure you know why you are working out. Whether it is to do cardio, lift for strength, endurance, maintenance, etc, lose weight, gain muscle. Know why you are in there, so that you do not just go in there twiddling your thumbs. Workout with a purpose. Even better write down your workouts for the week, so that you know what you have to accomplish each day. This allows you to not waist time and get straight to work. I would also advise making goal specific to how much time you alot to the workout.
Plan: I was always told growing up that if you do not write it down then nothing will happen. Try and schedule in your workout sessions in your calendar. Try to make it a consistant time set aside too workout. Put the cell phone away, and focus on working on you. Besides just planning your workouts, try also planning out your meals. I love this quote from Sun Tzu the Great Chinese Military Strategist, "Strategy without tactics is a slow road to success". In other words we must learn to be tactiful in everything we do especially when your "Life" and "Well-being" is on the line. If I told you that I can give you advice to help you live a longer, healthier life, would you take it? How important would it be to you?
Accountability: There will be times when you do not feel like doing what you set out to accomplish. Whether we like it or not, stuff happens in life, there are alot of things we can and can't control. But no matter how strong a person you are you are going to have an off day, feeling lazy, unmotivated. You must have a support system in play to counter those emotions when you do not feel like doing anything. Two is always better then one. One can pick up the slack for the other. Think about even including a workout partner. So that you can push and motivate each other.
Challenge yourself: Set challenges at the end of each workout session, when you are already tired, muscles are fatigued. I like to call these "finishers". Finishers can be any exercise you do for time or extra to top off your workouts. For example 100 total sit-ups, 30 box jumps, 50 jumping jacks, 45 med ball slams etc. It will teach you to always finish strong, and once you finish the "Finishers" you will feel a greater sense of accomplishment that day. I believe that the way you train in the gym is the same way you approach different areas of life. Train hard, train smart, but most importantly train for the long run.
Creative: Make fitness fun, and include activities that you like to do; whether in doors or outdoors. Try something new. Get creative in your workouts. Make it an event where you include other people. Take a Hike, Run around a lake, play a pick-up game of basketball, enter a 5k or marathon, ride a bike, grab a canoe, jump rope. The whole world is your gym, get creative, but most importantly learn to enjoy what you do.
