Making the decision to go ahead and do something different is a major step. Even more commendable is the decision to change for you, and your body—in respect to health and fitness. There has been a sudden surge of people getting involved in working out and eating healthy, with Pitt’s new club CHAARG and the soon-to-be University of Pittsburgh Spoon magazine. People have been more open to sharing their experience and creative with their approaches; some have been recording their actual workout routines and showing the snippets via social media. YouTube and Instagram have been making this sharing much easier and public. Even though we may be seeing all of these incredibly inspiring videos/posts, it takes a lot more than simple visual motivation to actually start your own routine. The incentive to remain consistent requires even more of a personal effort.
For example, one of the most popular of these enthusiasts I have discovered is Massiel “Massy” Arias, and she goes by MankoFIT. She’s a twenty-four year old personal trainer in New York City, originally from the Dominican Republic. She posts videos on all of her intense workouts and writes informative posts about healthy eating. But she also posts motivational quotes to keep her followers going. Her personal motivation was the near loss of her brother, who picked himself up after recovering for surgery. He began to exercise and build his body in order to maintain his physical health. Although it may not be life and death for everyone, staying healthy now will pay off in the grand scheme of things.
Separating your focus from what someone else is doing for their body, and solely focusing on what your goals are is what is important. You’ve got to remember that your health and your body are what really matter. Here are a few reminders that will aid in keeping you motivated, and having a positive outlook on the new path you are forging.
1) Change Your Mindset. Stop thinking lazy thoughts. When you want to make a change, you have to be active about it. No more couch potato mode! If you don’t think you can do something, then it won’t get done. In the case of fitness, think of yourself as an athlete*. You are a champion, and you can do this! So get to it!
2) Set Long-Term Goals. Depending on how much weight you may want to lose/gain, or muscle you want to obtain, setting a long-term goal will assist in making sure you focus on the future while you take care of the now. Setting a short-term goal such as “I want to have a flat stomach within the next 2-3 months” may not work as well. What if you don’t achieve flat abs within 3 months? You’ll end up discouraged. Making these kinds of changes are supposed to keep you uplifted! Make sure you place realistic goals for yourself.
3) Be Consistent. It’s important to get your mind and body into a regiment. The more you stick to a certain workout schedule, the more likely you are to continue working out. If you’ve ever started to exercise, then for some reason or another you stopped, you know how it feels. It’s like you’re back at square one, starting all over again, so keep up the good work!
4) Have Fun. Working out doesn’t have to be the equivalent of a chore. Working out does not mean that you must go to a gym/facility to get in a good workout. There are many ways that you can be active at home or outdoors. There are so many videos available on YouTube that show people exercising and using things in your home to help you out.
5. Buddy System. Having a workout buddy is one of the greatest things ever! Your workout buddy should be someone who is already in to exercising and eating healthy, or who has also made this decision to be healthier. Whenever one of you feels like you can’t go anymore, the other should be there as enthusiasm. A buddy is a partner in crime, and they are motivational by just being there for you.
I hope these tips have given you a bit more of a push to take the plunge, keep going, and make it to your goals! These tips are not exclusive to health and fitness, but are also small reminders that will help in everyday life, no matter your circumstance. Go in for the kill, enjoy the thrill, and don’t give up! Eyes on the prize everyone, and remember to have fun.
**You should also pay attention to your body, do not push your body past its limits. Small steps will help you build up to the bigger steps.**