You know need to start woking out and eating healthier, but you haven’t gotten around to it. You’ve been thinking about it for weeks, months, or even years, but you just won’t start. Is it because you’re lazy? Or because you’re a procrastinator? Why can’t you just do it? Take it easy! You’re probably lacking one of these five things.
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To be honest, I know exactly how you feel. I spent years thinking that I should eat right and exercise without doing anything about it. I even started to think I should just accept the fact that I was going to be overweight the rest of my life. But you know what? I didn’t know I was lacking these five things, and that’s why it took me so long to get started.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Lao Tzu
Taking the first step is the hardest thing you’ll ever do, believe me. In fact, the beginning is the most important part of any process, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. That said, you also shouldn’t stay stuck at the starting line forever. So, what in the world do you need to take that darn first step? Probably one of these things.
5 Things You Need To Start A Fitness Plan
1. Self love
I know you probably hate those fat rolls and that belly pooch, but you can’t hate your body for it. Your body is beautiful because it’s the only one you have. It may be out of shape, but all it needs is a little TLC. And don’t even think about torturing your body with crash diets or pills! That’s not going to do you any good. If want to get fit and healthy, you have to love yourself first. Are you feeling the love yet?
Once you start loving yourself, you’ll be willing to work hard to improve your health and fitness.
2. A powerful reason to change
In order to get fit and healthy, you have to change your lifestyle. And in order to change, you need to have a very powerful reason to do so. Let me tell you that looking great in jeans is not good enough. I didn’t have a reason to change until I saw someone dear to me die from diabetes and heart disease. I decided that my kids deserve a to have a healthy, active mom with them for many years. What’s your powerful reason?
A powerful reason will get you started and keep you going through the setbacks.
3. A goal you can reach
A goal is reachable when it’s sensible and specific. Don’t just say you want to lose weight. How many pounds is that, exactly? After I had my baby, I decided I had to lose 55 pounds so I could get my pre-pregnancy weight back. I kept my eye on that long-term goal, set mini monthly goals, and reached it after 18 months of hard work. What your reachable goal?
Having a goal is important, but what’s really going to change you is the journey.
4. A plan you can follow
Clearly, you need to eat healthier and workout, but you also need a plan. What are you going to eat? How are you going to prepare your meals? What kind of exercise are you going to do? How many times a week? You need to answer these questions so can start taking care of yourself. You could ask a doctor, a nutritionist or a health coach to help you with this. What’s your plan to follow?
Be flexible. You can change the plan, but not the goal.
5. Friends to support you
It’s extremely important to know someone’s got your back before you start working on your fitness goals. If the people around you won’t do it, then you also need new friends. But seriously, you can join an online group or a support group. Having a community will keep you on track when you feel like giving up, and it will keep you accountable. Do you have a community?
Accountability is the only way you can commit to a health and fitness plan.
Are you all set?
If have everything on the list, then that means you are absolutely ready to embark on your health and fitness journey. But even if you still don’t feel like you can take that dreaded first step, I’ll tell you a little secret.
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Walt Disney
Suggestions to start
It was scary for me to start changing my lifestyle, but I felt much better when I realized I didn’t have to make big changes to begin. Just pick one thing on this list and you’ll start getting healthy and fit!
Eat something healthy everyday
- Have at least one or two servings of produce at every meal. Green smoothies are great for this!
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.
- Avoid processed food.
Do a little exercise everyday
- Start by walking 10 or 15 minutes a day.
- Do a 5-minute workout.
- Sign up for something where you have to move, even if it’s not strictly exercise, like dancing lessons or patrolling the neighborhood.
Learn how to de-stress
- Do yoga or practice meditation.
- Do deep-breathing exercises.
- Keep a journal.
Get 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night
- Don’t have a heavy dinner and don’t snack before bed.
- Turn off all your devices at least an hour before bedtime.
- Do a little light reading before you sleep.
- Try to go to bed 10 minutes earlier everyday.
I don’t know if I’m ready for a full on plan – but those are all tips that are easily within reach!
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Small changes make a huge difference! Thanks for coming by and I hope these tips work well for you 🙂
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I like that you mention self-love. This isn’t an egotistical love, it’s realizing that you are important and wonderful and appreciating that fact.This is often a difficult step to take, as other peoples words often poison our own thoughts of ourselves.
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Very true! Self-love is a necessary before we can love others, and taking care of ourselves and our bodies is an act of self-love. Thanks for commenting!
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I like all of these ideas. I’m always looking for ways to stay motivated and moving in the right direction.
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I know it’s not easy to stay on the right path, but I hope these ideas are useful for you. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
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That’s a wonderful post and I really like how you put so much info in a bullet form! Good that you included love to yourself as one of the factors – we sometimes forget about it in between counting calories…
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So true! We can get so caught up in the dieting and exercising whirlwind that we forget it’s all about loving ourselves and our bodies.
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Great advice and easy tips to start off – very appealing approach!
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Sometimes easy is the best way to start. Thanks for coming by, Vi!!
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These are great, simple, small steps to take. Anyone could do it! Really great!
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That’s the idea! Small changes make a huge difference. Thanks for reading 🙂
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Hi Fabi!
I’m on a weight loss journey these days.And your post inspired me soo much..
Especially this lines..”Be flexible. You can change the plan, but not the goal.”
I mean you have to try a lot of things to figure out what works with your body, when you are doing thing along.So it takes time and lot of patience.Love this post.
http://travelme-srilanka.blogspot.com/
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Exactly! There is no cookie-cutter formula that works for everyone, you have to walk your own journey to fitness and health. I agree, time and patience are key. Thanks so much for reading! 🙂
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Lovely post, I absolutely agree with all of its content!! I love the inspirational quotes, and I’m sure you’re helping many many people with all this useful information. Keep up the good work xx
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Thanks! I really hope other people find it useful, because that’s what I’m aiming for. Thanks for coming by 🙂
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Such an inspirational post! Great advice for those wanting to get active! Thanks for sharing!
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I hope you find these tips useful. Thanks for coming by!
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Lovely post! I love how you gave very actionable steps 🙂
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Thanks for reading, Flavia 🙂
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friends and family to support and a good plan are definitely key! 🙂
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Yes! They’re definitely a must-have!
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Great post! So motivational and different from what I’ve read before. The inclusion of self-love is important, and so many people ignore it with their own work out regimens.
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True, self-love is crucial if you want to take care of yourself and your body. It’s absolutely necessary!
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Like the common sense tips that makes reaching your health and fitness goals more realistic and attainable.
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Yes, health and fitness should be attainable. Thanks for coming by!
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Awesome tips! I need to work on my sleep:p And love the MLK quote:)
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Me too! I’ve been staying up way too often lately. Need to get some more beauty sleep 🙂 lol
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Haha! Yes, it is very much needed:)
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I really like that you included sleep in a fitness post. Sleep is so essential to our bodies overall function! Love all your tips!
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Not getting enough sleep apparently meeses with your hunger signals, as does stress. Glad you liked 🙂
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I LOVE how you started with self-love! It is unexpected in a fitness post but really, I workout and get fit because I love my body and want to keep it healthy, not because I hate it! Hate is feeding our bodies crap, not sleeping and not moving. All things you touched on. Great post with simple steps to get going. xoxo
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Thanks, Dylan! Self-love is the first thing you should have to get fit and healthy, because it’s like you say, if you love your body you won’t feed it junk and you’ll get moving. Self-love is where it all begins!
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[…] Wonder Fabi […]
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I totally needed this- feeling discouraged at the moment and this totally helped my confidence! Thanks for reminding me that it starts with self love.
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Remembering to love myself also helps me whenever I get off track. Hope this helps! 🙂
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[…] Here are 5 things you need to start getting fit and healthy. […]
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