If you're committed to achieving anything in the gym you need to be just that, COMMITTED! Making movement a non-negotiable is the single best way to achieve any goal, whether its building muscle, feeling fitter, losing fat or training for an event.
Unfortunately our bodies do not change overnight, so, here's 5 things to remember when you're first starting to ensure you stay in the game long enough to make a real difference. (The real secret is you never truly stop once you start - it simply becomes less challenging and your goals move to keep you chasing higher heights!)
- Don’t do too much, too soon.
We’ve speak often about the importance of avoiding injury in order to build consistency. Don’t burn yourself out rushing for the finish line when it’s more of a marathon than a sprint.
- Remove the friction.
Your ‘friction’ will vary from person to person. Identify it and move to lessen its impact. It could be finding a form of exercise you enjoy, doing a home workout on the weekend rather than heading to the gym… think of this way, you’ve got to make your life easy – set yourself up for success.
- Focus on the mental health benefits.
Exercise is a game changer for mental health – many of you may know already, mental health may not have been the reason you got in to fitness, but it’s certainly an important factor in why you stay!
- Prioritise sleep.
When you sleep well everything else falls into place much easier. Without a proper night’s sleep we tend to make poor food choices, we’re less inclined to exercise and we generally don’t feel ourselves. Prioritising sleep is one of the best things you can do for your wellbeing this year.
- Find your tribe.
We’d like to think we’re all lucky in this regard, having found our Tribe at the DVCC. The motivational power of the ‘Tribe’ is not to be underestimated. The buzz of the room, the community support and the sparks of motivation that we can catch from one another are unparalleled in their impact.
These 5 points are especially powerful for someone new to exercise. If you're already on your own journey to becoming happier and healthier, pass this on to someone that wants to lose weight or gain muscle this year. Be the outstretched hand of support so many of us needed when we were in that very position.
