I Journi

If you desire to improve your life and are ready to put in the maximum effort to live a healthy lifestyle,  you have come to the right place. I am equipping you with five simple steps to get you started and on your way on a healthy journey.  

 Step 1: Make time: 

We all live busy lives with many responsibilities, obligations, and commitments we choose to balance. In order to live healthy, you should be intentional about making time to prepare. Being prepared and showing up is half the work. Suggestions: Prepare healthy lunches, snacks, and dinners ahead of time. 

Make an appointment with the gym. Choose whether working out early in the morning or evening will be best for you. Make a clear schedule of your workouts’ days, times, and duration. Place it on a calendar or your phone or tablet. Several useful apps can remind you. Start small at first. If 10 or 20 minutes is all you can spare, it’s better than nothing. Once you have mastered that commitment, increase your time. A good starting goal is 30 minutes of consistent exercise at least three times a week. Replace a bad habit with a more healthy option. Some of us often have habits like going out to eat with co-workers or watching our favorite TV series, but try to replace them at least once a week with a workout session. You’re bound to see progress if you try.

Step 2: Find an activity that you Enjoy:

There are endless options for getting moving. That’s the whole point: to change from being a couch potato to a healthy, active individual.

Suggestions: Running is my personal favorite right now. It’s a mental and physical challenge, but the benefits are tremendous. 

Walking can be a good starting point for beginners. It is therapeutic and good for your heart. It is low intensity unless you speed walk. Of course, it can be done anywhere. Walking the entirety of a mall can have a similar effect as walking around a track or in a neighborhood. Going to a fitness center or gym, yoga, biking, hiking, swimming, kickboxing, indoor rock climbing, playing basketball, football, soccer, or even dancing (Zumba) and aerobics—the list goes on. 

Google a few options and try a few new things. Find at least one activity you enjoy to start with. 

Step 3:  Stay accountable and reasonable with your goals:

Share your goal of starting a healthy lifestyle with a supportive friend or family member. Be upfront; ask them to help you stay on task. It would be even better if they would join you on your journey. Studies show that people with accountability partners are likelier to lose weight and keep the weight off. 

Make sure you have a purpose for choosing a healthy lifestyle and are choosing it for the right reason. FOR YOU ONLY! If you are doing it to please friends, family, or a partner, it’s not likely to last because your efforts aren’t genuine. 

Set short-term and long-term goals. Make your short-term goals reasonable.  If you start too hard, fast, and soon, you will experience burnout and feel less accomplished. You want to set yourself up for success in the beginning. 

Write down your goals so you can see them daily. As you progress or have setbacks, journal or jot about your experiences. Take photos of yourself every couple of weeks or months. Over time, you will see your progress visually and feel more confident about your accomplishments. 

Step 4: Learn, explore, and implement:

There are countless information outlets such as social media, YouTube, thousands of blogs, and websites, both medical and independent, right at your fingertips. However, be careful what you see and read; don’t believe everything online. Information overload is accurate. The key to avoiding it is to do what works best for you. Many sources online are people sharing their experiences and what they did to achieve a goal, and it’s not a guarantee it will work for you. So, feel free to try their suggestions, within reason, I’m not talking about the latest fade diet either. Just don’t beat yourself up if you’re not seeing similar results. Don’t compare yourself to others. Your results will come with the process and your hard work. There is no such thing as “lose weight fast.” If you need extra motivation, try hiring a personal trainer if your budget allows it. Some personal fitness centers have trainers on staff for a discount. 

Go to the library or buy a few books or magazines to read about health topics you find relevant and interesting. Learn how to eat right and properly exercise. Add a little inspiration, too.

Explore new recipes, drink more water, and reduce sugar and salt intake. Learn all you can about nutrition.  Most importantly, you should implement the information you are learning. Just take your time and make changes slowly over time.

Step 5: Stay Motivated:

After the honeymoon stage is over and your routine seems a bit stale, don’t quit. Spice it up a bit. Invite a new friend to try a new activity with you. Buy yourself some new workout gear. Get an inspirational quote, mantra, or song that will keep you exerting your maximum amount of effort. There is no finish line towards a healthy lifestyle. It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon, and only the strong will survive. Believe in yourself always, about all things. 

“When you feel like quitting, remember why you started. ” – Unknown.

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Start-Your-Own-Exercise-Regimen-and-Stick-to-It

Photo: webbernaturals.com