By Janet Luhrs, www.simpleliving.com
There are so many opinions and approaches to getting and staying fit that sometimes it seems easier to just sit on the couch, doesn’t it? AAAK! When that happens, it’s time to seriously simplify things in a big way. Remember, your couch is not your friend when it comes to having a healthy and fit body.
Simplicity is the key to successfully sticking with it as well as successfully attaining the results you want. Here are some tips to keeping it simple and finding success:
- Time it right: choose a time of day that works for you and your lifestyle. If you are a night owl, early morning workouts are not going to work for you unless you first change your schedule. Be realistic and choose a time that makes sense for you.
- Be consistent: Tell yourself that you will stick with it and that hard work pays off, but it does take time. No one sees true results overnight.
- Add variety: You are more likely to stick to a workout plan that allows for some variation. Think of these as option “B”, but again, keep them simple.
- What you “know” may be wrong: There is a lot of bad and old information that’s still circulating. If you are working with a trainer, make sure to choose one who stays current with certification and continuing education. You need to be willing to let go of those “facts” about fitness that you have held onto all these years. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!
- Keep it basic: You can go crazy with multi-joint exercises or complex, challenging lifts, but if you keep to basic squats, deadlifts, and bench presses, you have the foundational moves for all strength training.
- Use your 3 legged stool: Strength, flexibility, and cardio are the basic building blocks of a well-rounded workout plan. Make sure that your week includes all three of these at least 2-3 times a week for each one. But take the pressure off yourself to hit all 3 each time you work out. Strength and flexibility one day, cardio and flexibility the next, and so on.
- Break it up: If you can’t set aside a full hour, don’t toss in the towel. Give yourself permission to do 20 minutes of cardio in the morning, then some strength training or flexibility in the evening.
Hopefully you can cut yourself some slack and look for success in the simplicity of a plan. The most important thing is that you stick with it…THAT is success!
Featured photo source: Pixabay.com
