Five Tips to Finally Start Your Fitness Journey

People on the internet like to argue about what fitness or nutrition program is best for everyone. Truth is, none of the debates matter for the vast majority of people.

It doesn’t matter what Internet Expert Trainer X thinks about foam rolling if you don’t do regular workouts in the first place. It doesn’t matter what Sensational Author Y thinks about high-carb low-fat diets if you had Skittles for breakfast and Taco Bell for dinner. It simply doesn’t matter, and that is a dangerous idea for gurus who try to sell you the Answer.

Am I saying that these debates aren’t over legitimate issues? Of course not. But fitness, for the majority of people, is more about psychology than physiology. If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. Of course. But since everyone knows how that works, why are the majority of adults in the US overweight? Why do most people fail when they try to make a lifestyle change?

Focus on establishing good habits. Find a program that speaks to you, that you actually look forward to doing. There are plenty of people that are in good shape that follow stupid and even dangerous programs. Why are they successful? Good genetics, and because they are consistent.

It doesn’t have to be hard to start a fitness habit. It’s only difficult if you make it difficult. Focus on these things:

Surround yourself with people with similar goals who already have a fitness habit

When you’re driving down the interstate, do you notice how everyone else’s speed seems to dictate yours? Or if one person jaywalks, other people are more likely to do the same? This is called social modeling, an extremely powerful way to influence behavior. Surrounding yourself with people who do what you want to do makes it much easier for you to accomplish your goals.

Schedule

Decide beforehand how you will act in a given situation. I was told this during my school’s D.A.R.E. program, and it’s true. Make an appointment in your calendar, even if it’s just with yourself, and show up.

The more specific you can be, the better. Decide on an event that will immediately precede your workout. This is called an action trigger, and will greatly enhance the odds that you will do what you decide to do. For example, make a list of everything you have to do this week, schedule every single workout you plan to do, then note what event will immediately precede your workout. Don’t ever just say “I want to work out 3 times this week.”

Discover why

Write out why you want to accomplish your goal. Be specific. You don’t want to be in shape just to be in shape. You want to be active enough to play with your grandkids, or survive the next fight you have on duty, or fit into a certain dress to impress friends that you haven’t seen in a while, or to break your 5K time because you enjoy competing. Find what motivates you, not what someone says should motivate you.

Eliminate obstacles

Keeping junk food in your house will not help you achieve your goals, unless your goal is to fail. Make it easy on yourself. If all you have to snack on is fruit, nuts, and jerky, then that is what you’ll eat. If you have cookies, that is what you’ll eat. I understand if you have kids and other family members in the house, but do you really want them eating that kind of food either? Is that a good investment in their health?

Find a good program

Simply “being more active” usually will not work. You have to be specific. After you pick a program, immerse yourself in it. If you read something that contradicts something in it, see if you can find the common ground. Often “big” debates are nothing more than bickering over details that account for 1% of your results. Follow your program for at least 12 weeks, preferably longer. Learn what works for you and what doesn’t. You’ll be set up for success much better than hopping from program to program.

If you’re looking for a fitness trainer in the Mt Juliet/Hermitage/Nashville TN area, online fitness training, or just need some advice to get your fitness program started, contact me