Your Fitness Checklist

When it comes to fitness success, there are many different things we must take into consideration before attempting to pursue. These are things that we must all know and understand because there so many different speed bumps in that road to success. After talking with many different fitness professionals and leading names in the industry, I’ve found five common areas of interest across the board and I want to relay what it is to be expected directly to you.

1.     Education

Education is the number 1 issue a lot of different professionals have agreed on that is a big issue in this lifestyle. The education on the consumer’s side and professional’s side. Not all of us, but many of us tend to jump head first into something exciting and don’t really know exactly what we are doing or what to do when our body stops responding to our exercise routines and diet. That’s where our education comes into play. We need to learn how our bodies respond to Weight Training, Cardio, CrossFit, Zumba, and the many other ways we can exercise. We also need to learn what diet suits our exercise choices and how to make the most out of it. As far as the professionals, I want to say there are a lot of different trainers out there who are all promising the same thing. However, not all trainers are created equal by far. I suggest you, as a consumer for personal training, do your research on whoever you are interested in hiring and trusting with your health and fitness. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask to see testimonials or interview them for the position to help you. In short, pay attention to how you feel and how your body responds to different exercises and don’t hesitate to interview a fitness professional for the chance to be your fitness professional.

2.     Consistency

I cannot stress enough that consistency is a valuable key ingredient to success in this health and fitness lifestyle. You cannot stop or slow down just because things get a little hard or you don’t see what you expected to see so soon. Trust me, you will a lot farther slowing down a bit than completely stopping all together. I won’t lie , this lifestyle can be challenging and it can be frustrating to put so much work in and see the scale move slightly if not at all. Don’t worry, it’s a process and if you stick to it, you will get what you want out of it. That is guaranteed. The body is stubborn, but it will give in and give up that last stubborn 5-10lbs.

3.     Accountability

People love to try and blame their genetics, lifestyle or any or everything else they can to justify why they don’t work out or why they look the way they look. I’m going to be honest with you and say that, in the case of not working out or being out of shape, it’s not your genetics. Obesity is not a disease and no one is destined to be overweight or out of shape for the rest of their life. It’s all you. You are the only sole source of direction that leads whether or not you fit well in that wedding dress or that you drop those 15lbs and keep them off for good. No one else and nothing else can stop you if you really want it and work hard for it. 

4.     Variety

Variety is the key to spark your body into new progression and get yourself out of those plateaus that you may have been stuck in a while. It could be the smallest variety that makes all the difference. If you occasionally run for longer periods of time and you aren’t losing weight, shorten your runs up. If you’re normally lift weight for higher reps, lift heavier. If you constantly are eating nothing but chicken and broccoli, change your protein sources up to turkey or fish. The smallest little change can make all the difference in how your body looks in a few weeks from now. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your box because that’s where the magic happens.  The body responds to new stimulus and it’s usually ready for something new when it stops responding to the old. Many would agree it is beneficial to be open minded when concerning your workouts and exercises of choice.

5.     Patience

This is probably the most, if not one of the most, important things to keep in mind when you’re working for a healthier you. You have to learn to be patient with your body and your progress. It comes and goes in spurts. You will see slight progressive loss, but the biggest and most noticeable progress comes in spurts. Don’t’ get frustrated if your weight isn’t coming off as fast as you want it to and don’t get upset if you haven’t dropped a size yet. If you are doing everything right and putting in your time, you will get to where you want to be. You will see a better looking you soon. You will reach your goals.

       Along with many different professionals, I encourage everyone to take a personal interest in their health and fitness for whatever reason. Whether or not you want to feel better, look better or just be a better version of you in general. I know you have what it takes and I know you will succeed if you keep these 5 key points in mind. 

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