At any gym across the country – whether it is a YMCA or recreation center, a chain facility or a personal training studio – members are at different life stages and fitness levels. What they have in common is the goal to improve their wellness.
“If you feel you are not in ideal shape, and you are determined to get healthier again, remember that you do not get results and reach your ultimate objectives overnight,” said Adam Bolden, a personal trainer at 30 West Fit in Kettering. “It takes dedication and work every day, and It is a journey that begins with the first step of getting started, and then extends to days and weeks to form a fledgling habit, and with the right guidance, it will hopefully become part of who you are for months and then years.
Maybe it’s fueled by a desire to fit better in your clothes. Perhaps it’s a sudden decision to make a lifestyle change to shed weight for your overall health. No matter the reason for launching a fitness regimen, all too often many people give up on their objectives.
Reasons might range from a lack of time, not understanding how to use equipment, not knowing what exercises to incorporate, or just boredom. For lots of would-be fitness enthusiasts, though, the reason is they just do not like moving their body.
Perhaps it is a matter of connecting exercise to discomfort. Mindfulness works as a motivation technique to help beginners sustain their fledgling fitness program and turn it into a long-term welcomed habit.
Here are tips from 30 West Fit on how to become more aware of the present moment on what you are doing, instead of dwelling on past failures or projecting into the future dreading how much work it will take to reach your wellness goals.
Determine specifically why you are working out
It is challenging to remain dedicated to a fitness regimen when you do not define why you are doing it. Instead of generic terms like “I am exercising because I want to lose weight” or “I am working out because it is healthy,” define what motivates you at a deeper level. “I must exercise and reach weight goals to get in better physical condition to I will be there to see my son graduate from high school” or “I will exercise and become more active so I can join my spouse on long-distance hikes” are examples.
Why do you want to be fit and healthy? Remind yourself each day. When you are tempted to eat something that could derail you from your wellness goals, or skip a workout because you feel tired, remember why you want to be fit and healthy.
Remind yourself how good exercise makes you feel
When you are feeling drained or lacking motivation – or when you are tempted to join your friends at Happy Hour instead of driving to the gym, walking through the doors and beginning your personal training session – envision how good it feels when you work out. Remind yourself that getting there is the biggest challenge. When you finish, you know that you are maintaining your momentum and taking one step closer to your goals.
Don’t settle into a mundane routine
Variety is important, not just to work all of your muscle groups, but also to keep your passion for exercise stoked. Even the best workout routine can become stale over time. That is not a good thing because you stop looking forward to the experience and find excuses that often derail your goals.
“When many people start training, they are at a low point personally and/or physically, and the first step is actually walking through the 30 West Fit doors,” 30 West Fit personal trainer Erik Smith said. “Then we strive to transform that first visit into a consistent wellness plan that is based around workouts that vary but engage all of the muscle groups every week.”
Many 30 West Fit clients have worked out at gyms before, but a high percentage of them have not achieved desired results because they were not implementing proper form, which is one of the most important elements of making the aforementioned tips lead to reaching goals.
“If you don’t know which exercises are most effective for the goals you have, you are unlikely to achieve those goals,” Dominic said. “For example, if your goal is to build core strength but you spend all your time on cardio exercises, then you are unlikely to hit your goals.
“Reaching those goals requires consistency, proper form and technique, nutrition and motivation to get results,” Dominic added. “It’s fulfilling to see clients develop momentum, start seeing results, get even more inspired and accomplish goals they never imagined were possible. Having a healthy, positive mindset to accompany proper guidance is an important part of your fitness regimen.”
For more information about 30 West Fit, and to learn how to book a complimentary fitness assessment, visit www.30westfit.com.