Maybe you were going full steam with your workouts – you were committed and determined to make exercise a regular part of your day to day routine. However, somewhere around week 4 or 5 or even sooner, something goes terribly amiss and you find yourself missing one day, than another and another, until finally you have gone an entire week without exercising.
The first thing you must not do is beat yourself up. Falling off of exercise programs happens all the time. Understanding why you fell is the key to starting again and sticking to your routine. Here are the top 4 reasons why 80% of people who start an exercise program stop.
A Bad Fit Not every exercise program is right for all people. For example, your friend down the street is doing this very high impact dance aerobic tape and you think it may work for you. Perhaps you don’t really like dancing or the exercise is not a good fit for your current level of physical fitness.
Just because an exercise program looks really neat on television or in a magazine, or your friend likes it, does not mean that it will work for you. Taking the time to really consider which type of exercise best suits you can make a huge difference to your commitment and success. Ask yourself what kind of exercise or recreational activities you enjoy.
Perhaps you like to bicycle or swim or even hike or walk. All of these are excellent ways to get in shape. Remember you don’t need fancy equipment or an expensive membership to a five-star gym to keep yourself looking and feeling your best.
Free Report: 5 Steps to Look 10 Years Younger
Discouragement Some people get discouraged because they don’t see results happening fast enough. However, the truth be told, extra weight and flabby muscles don’t show up overnight, it takes years for a body to fall into disrepair. Therefore, it would make sense for it to take a while before any measurable results appear.
Sometimes you can hit a plateau in your exercise routine where it is necessary to switch things up a bit in order to rev up your metabolism. Keep in mind, it is generally considered healthier to lose weight and gain muscle in a slow and consistent fashion rather than too quickly. Many times quick weight loss is nothing more than water weight which is easily put back on.
Fatigue If you are burning the candle at both ends and not allowing yourself proper rest, it is possible that you have little energy left to workout. Perhaps you are a poor sleeper and spend most of the night tossing and turning.
The good news is, consistent exercise can really help establish great sleeping habits. Many people find that once they get into the regular habit of doing something physical each day that their sleep patterns regulate and they have more energy than ever before.
Poor Diet What you put into your body is like the fuel for a car. If you put sand in your gas tank you are not going to go very far. Likewise, you cannot put junk into your belly and expect it to make the necessary energy you need to get through your day, let alone your workout.
The body requires a proper fuel mixture of high quality fats, carbohydrates and protein in order to create energy. Limit your diet to whole foods including organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds and grass-fed meats and wild caught salmon.
Tips for Getting Started Again
- Determine if you are sleeping well and eating right.
- Find an exercise program that is fun and suitable for your fitness level.
- Get an accountability partner – sometimes it is easier to stick to an exercise routine when you have someone to hold you accountable.
- Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day – just get right back at it the next day.
- Remind yourself daily how important exercise is and how good it makes you look and feel.
Haven’t Started Yet? “So, what do I do next?” If you are ready to implement your New Year’s exercise program, you can incorporate these 5 steps to help get you started: => Steps To Looking 10 Years Younger
-The Alternative Daily