Shape180

I’ve been working in the fitness industry for close to 15 years now. I mainly work with the general population, consisting of people who usually don’t know how or where to start. Overall, I enjoy working with these individuals, but sometimes their expectations are too high.

With that said, the biggest mistake I see when people first start embarking on improving their lifestyle is simply trying to change too many aspects of their life at once. Working towards a healthier body after years of poor nutritional choices and lack of physical activity and exercise takes time, a long time. Any quick fixes, such as drastic diets, are bound to fail as old habits will surely creep back in at some point.

The key is to focus on 1-2 things at a time and start small. For example, if you live an overall sedentary lifestyle, begin by taking daily walks for as little as 10 minutes each day. After you’ve adhered to this for a few weeks, extend your walks gradually, or go out more frequently. If you’d like to begin an exercise program, start with 2-days per week that consists of simple movements and build from there.

To add to this, a simple change is to drink more water. It always amazes me how many people don’t drink enough water. If you work on eliminating sugary drinks, diet pops (sodas if your American), and energy drinks, and replace these with water – you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel. You will likely even drop a few pounds with this simple switch. If you are someone who doesn’t like water, I’m sorry to be blunt, but that to me, is a ridiculous statement. Find a way to like it. Water is the most important chemical and every cell in our body needs it to survive and function properly. If adding water enhancers is the only way you’ll drink it, that’s fine. Personally, I enjoy carbonated water and I add lemon, limes, or other fruit.

You may already be familiar with this; your goals should be S.M.A.R.T. Having general goals without a specific game plan will set you up for failure. The more specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely your goal(s) are, the more likely you are to reach them.

Change is never easy – if it were, we’d all be in good shape. Be kind and honest with yourself. Find activities you enjoy, but don’t be afraid to try new things. Its ok if you suck at it because being good at things is not the point. Challenge yourself, and don’t compare yourself to others. This your journey, your health, your life.

Keep moving.