As the year ends, many of us find ourselves contemplating resolutions aimed at fostering a healthier, more balanced lifestyle in the new year. Embracing change doesn’t require drastic measures; rather, it’s about the journey of gradual, sustainable shifts that align with our well-being goals. In this article, Anwar Jingo, fitness enthusiast, personal trainer and CEO of Way of Fit, shares more practical steps and mindful approaches to ease into a healthier lifestyle in the new year.
-Mindset shift
Maintaining a lifestyle is not just a temporary goal, but a lifelong commitment. It’s like running a marathon, not a sprint. While aiming to lose weight is a positive objective, it’s essential to keep in mind the long-term goal of keeping the weight off. This requires a consistent and dedicated approach towards leading a healthy lifestyle. Ultimately, it’s about prioritizing longevity and making healthy choices a part of your everyday routine.
Embrace the fact that you’re only human and avoid the all-or-nothing mindset. Remember, setbacks are inevitable. But don’t let one bad day, a missed workout or a slice of pizza throw you off course. Instead, isolate the event, focus on getting back on track, and keep pushing forward towards your goals.
-Perspective shift
Everyday, we should be grateful for the ability to exercise and eat healthy. We should consider these things as privileges and never take them for granted. It’s a blessing to be able to move our bodies and enjoy nutritious meals, and we should appreciate these privileges as they are not available to everyone.
You get to move. You get to exercise. It is not a chore, but rather a privilege. Be proactive with your health. Go for that walk. Go for that run. Don’t waste that opportunity.
-Define your why.
Why do you want to adopt a healthy lifestyle? Take time to define this.
Your commitment to the process determines your progress, but you can’t stay committed if you don’t have a firm reason why you’re committing in the first place.
It’s okay to rely on motivation for the first few weeks, but it’ll only take you so far. You need to establish the discipline to show up and get things done regardless of your feelings, hence the need for a strong why: to minimize excuses and to remind yourself why you began your journey whenever you feel like quitting.
-Have clear goals
Setting a goal to lose weight is good, but it needs to be specific and realistic. Determine the amount of weight you want to lose, set a time frame to achieve it, and ensure it’s achievable.
-Have realistic expectations.
One thing about a healthy lifestyle, and being fit is understanding that; it’s not going to be easy, it’s going to require effort, it takes time and consistency. So, don’t be hard on yourself.
-Reframe your identity
This point is critical. While it’s admirable to train to achieve a specific goal, true success comes from training because it’s who you are deep down— a person who never misses a workout and always chooses healthy food options. So, let’s strive to be that kind of person who is committed to living a healthy and active lifestyle.
To quote James Clear, the author of #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits, “You might start a habit because of motivation, but the only reason you’ll stick with one is that it becomes your identity. Improvements are only temporary until they become part of who you are.”
-Focus on the systems and not the outcomes
So, you want to lose weight.. Instead of focusing on what the scale says (as this is not in your control), focus on the systems, in this case the habits, that you will adopt to achieve that outcome like your food choices, your activity levels inside and outside of exercise and how much sleep you’re getting. On doing this, the outcome will take care of itself.
-Pair healthy habits with activities you already love.
By combining what you need to do with what you want to do, you can make your life more enjoyable. Imagine doing a few push ups after watching your favorite Netflix show, or taking a walk while listening to your favorite podcast. These activities will become more desirable because they will lead you to something you love.
-Start with low effort activities.
Activities like walking daily offer a plethora of benefits while causing minimal stress on the body. Once you incorporate these activities into your life you can gradually increase the challenge
-Surround yourself with like-minded individuals.
When you surround yourself with fit people, you’re more likely to consider working out & taking care of your health.
Join a community of like-minded individuals. This could be in the gym, a yoga class, a morning walk/run group, etc. You may even create a group of your own and recruit people with the same likes & interests but with the common goal of improving your way of life. Nothing sustains motivation like that feeling of belonging to a tribe or community.
-Have an accountability partner.
Someone you can answer to when you do or don’t see through your objectives. This can be in the form of a coach or a supportive family member or friend.
-Commit
Your progress is determined by your commitment to the process. Persevere and don’t quit, even when it gets tough or boring. The long-term payoff is worth it.
-Enjoy the process
Adherence is the most significant factor in achieving success. To stay committed to something, it has to be compatible with your lifestyle, and you should enjoy it. Exercise and healthy eating should not be considered as tedious tasks that you must do to reach a particular goal. Instead, they should be enjoyable activities that you voluntarily engage in to improve your overall well-being
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is a significant commitment that requires a combination of effort, time, and persistence. To make the process more manageable, it is essential to create a plan that encompasses all aspects of healthy living, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep. However, even with a solid plan in place, it can be challenging to stay on track due to various distractions and external factors. To overcome these obstacles, it is crucial to make healthy living as effortless as possible. This could mean finding a gym or workout routine that is close to your home or office, stocking your pantry with healthy foods, and meal-prepping to avoid the temptation of unhealthy options. Additionally, setting realistic and achievable goals, tracking progress, and celebrating small victories can provide motivation and reinforce healthy habits. By taking steps to make healthy living an easy and convenient part of your daily routine, you can minimize excuses and increase the likelihood of long-term success.
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