Consistency might be the best advice to give to someone pursuing a lifestyle change. Because it is so easy to know all the right steps to follow, so many useful methods, people capable of teaching you everything you need to know. However, most fitness enthusiasts fail to be able to achieve the most difficult part, staying on track for the long run.
If you are motivated to change your lifestyle here are 9 proven ways to help you to keep on track and be consistent with your goal.
1. Build momentum bit by bit
There are some people that at the beginning of their training tend to feel like doing 6 days of a week routine without considering that they can get exhausted. And this attitude is most likely causing them to quit, especially if they used to have a sedentary lifestyle. We must start at a pace that we can keep in the long term.
Start slowly and as you get stronger, building momentum, intensify your routines. One key is to make exercising and habit: it only takes between 3 to 5 weeks to form one. Once you are able to repeat the simple routine it would get easier and more enjoyable. And to make this even easier try starting with a two-day workout routine the first month, after that you can advance to something more challenging.
This slow pace is also beneficial for dieting; start learning how to control the hunger with a low calories deficit and increase it once you build some momentum over a month.
2. Motivation is not infinite
The power of will is like a muscle and it can get tired or depleted, and when that happens, we can lose our motivation. Therefore, it is fiscally impossible to be motivated all the time, even professional athletes can be down from time to time. However, the good news is that if you focus to make the exercise and habit then you won’t need motivation, your body will need exercise, with time. Also, take in mind that skipping training days can also become a habit, so don’t fall for that.
3. Find a good friend
If you introduce someone else to your routines it becomes harder to skip a workout routine or eat unhealthy foods. Because no one wants to show their friends that kind of lack of determination, actually you would feel motivated to be accountable.
Make sure that your bro or sis has the same fitness level, same schedules, and goals as you. Since that would make the process easier for both.
4. Make a precise fitness plan
It is recommendable to search for a routine adequate to your level and compatible with your goals. Because it would help you to stay on track, also it is a way to register your progress. And because of that, you are going to be able to celebrate each small victory building confidence, each day you followed the plan.
5. Focus on monthly goals
Losing a noticeable amount of weight might take months in the best cases. Sincerely maintaining your diet and workout plan for that long might prove to be difficult, for anyone. This is why you need to keep your mind in the short-term goals and live them month by month. Once you start seeing yourself fulfilling the small goals you are going to feel motivated and committed to keeping it going.
6. Stick to your own rules
It shows commitment to yourself to have a strict set of rules and it becomes easier to follow your own fitness plans. By example, you could start by saying to yourself to never to skip more than 3 workout sessions and always have good proteins and vegetables with most of your meals.
7. You can improve your routines by having small habits
Habits, like sleeping 6 to 8 hours every day or eating fruit with every breakfast, are some of many small habits that can be built easily than later might be able to help you to remind your subconscious of your bigger habits and goals. After all, you are doing all of this because you wanted to change your life for the better.
Actually, there are many studies backing up that small habits have a huge impact in long term goals. Since people that are able to rest properly or drink the adequate amount of water are able to lose more weight than those who do not.
8. Start your day by exercising
In the morning you are going to be less tired which makes more difficult to skip sessions but also there are fewer distractions since your days are just starting. Besides, it becomes easier to make healthier decisions with your meals during the rest of the days, if you start focused first thing in the morning.
9. Do not hide behind some weak pretext
Having a healthier lifestyle is not something easy to achieve and it requires a lot of commitment. Don’t fall in those justifications: I feel tired today, there is no time, or I am busy with work, just to name some. That won’t get you anywhere just do what you have to do, and don’t feel afraid of coming out your comfort zone.