The one thing that works when it comes to getting fit is persistence. Slow and steady, does indeed, win the race. Small lifestyle changes such as eating healthier or making time to move can go a long way when it comes to looking and feeling better. That’s where Kaizen, the Japanese principal of striving for continuous improvement, comes into play.
Read this blog to see how you can implement this way of life to get you to where you want to be.
There’s No One Strategy that Fits All
What worked for your friend won't necessarily work for you. A fitness program needs to be tailored keeping in mind your goals, medical history, level of activity and dietary restrictions amongst other things. Exercise can do wonders for those looking to sculpt their bodies, but if done incorrectly, or by someone with a previous sports injury, it can end up causing a lot of harm. Improvements can only be incorporated into your life keeping your body in mind. You need to ask yourself what baseline is for you and then work around it.
Set Small, Achievable Goals
Setting goals is fun but achieving them is often difficult. That’s because losing 50 pounds in a year can sound like having to conquer Everest and it’s easy to get demotivated. Instead, set smaller goals for yourself that are easy to accomplish. You might set objectives such as these for yourself:
Cut out carbs three days a week
Walk 20 minutes a day
Lose 1 pound a week
Half your current portion sizes
In fact, if these still feel too hard, just set one goal for yourself for the day. This could be anything like:
Taking a ten-minute break from work to stretch
Drinking more water
Skipping afternoon coffee
Listening to a health and wellness podcast
More ambitious targets lead to people throwing their hands up with frustration when they don’t see immediate results. These smaller objectives will keep you feeling proud of your accomplishments.
Continue to Strive for Improvement
Last but not least, continue to improve yourself. When you’ve achieved smaller goals, gradually increase your frequency of achieving other goals. Once you’re routinely walking for 20 minutes a day, try and up that number to 30 minutes, or turn the walk into a jog. Push yourself to achieve just that little bit more, slowly and gradually.
Find More Guidance on Wellness on Demand
For more resources to guide you through your fitness journey check out our collection of podcasts on health and wellness at Wellness on Demand. Whether you’re looking for how to make abs at home or if this is something new for you don’t miss the best blog on health and fitness here.