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The end of the year is a time for us to reflect on what we have achieved, and we normally look back at what we would like to have achieved in the previous year... this motivates us to try and get fit, lose weight etc. etc. Subsequently, during the early part of a new year (normally New Years Resolution time) many of us go to the gym or attend fitness classes in an effort to achieve our goals. It is a well-known fact that 70%-80% of people who attend the gym stop going after the first 3 months - the reason being lack of motivation or the wrong motivation.
1. When changing your lifestyle do not make to many change at once. Start gradually and get yourself used to those changes.
It is much easier to give up smoking or drinking, but ,not to give up both at the same time, Of It is much easier to exercise twice a week rather than setting the goal of 4 times a week, which your schedule may not allow easily.
2. When you are making a lifestyle change try not to leave gaping holes within your lifestyle.
If you give up smoking or drinking try and occupy your time doing other things to take your mind off the craving.
3. If you find it difficult to keep with the new lifestyle rather than giving up and going back to your old ways, try something, else.
It is not a crime to be bored by something. For example there are many different types of health and fitness Regardless of who you are, it is a question of finding your own
individual path. Only when you are happy and satisfied with what you are doing will you achieve your goals.
4. When changing your lifestyle, try to get a friend or loved one to do it with you.
A problem shared is a problem halved As trite as this may sound it is much easier to give up smoking or start exercise with a friend You nave someone to talk through your experiences and what you are achieving.
5. If you have a particular interest or hobby, try and base the changes around something that you like doing.
If you have a hobby or interest that you like doing try and incorporate it within your change to your lifestyle If you want to get fit, for example, and you like skiing or playing sport then use this method to achieve your aim of getting fit. It will not only achieve your goals, but will also increase your skill within your given hobby or interest.
6, Reward yourself for achieving short term goals along the way. A tried but true method... there is nothing more satisfying than going to the shops and buying clothes with the money you would have spent on cigarettes or alcohol.
7. With certain changes you can allow yourself to indulge so that you are not cutting everything out of your lifestyle right away.
With certain changes you can indulge your passion when you have achieved short terms goals. If you like to eat chocolate bars for example, rather than eating them every day eat one twice a week, or when you have trained or achieved something.
8. If you have many changes that you would like to make to your lifestyle, pick the one that is most easily achieved in the first instance.
Many of us have a number of things we would like to change about ourselves. Take the easiest one first and work your way up to the most difficult one. Achievements come in small steps u/nt/i you start to get ge/np and be/id up the motivation.
9. Focus on the positive aspects of what you are trying to achieve and not the negative aspects.
It is always important to focus on the positive aspects of what you are trying to achieve. When you feel yourself starting to flag or get bored, reflect on what you have achieved. If you have only exercised 3 times within one month, you are still fitter then when you first started.
10. As with everything, achieving change is not easy. The better you research and plan how you are going to change, however the more you will know and the easier it
will be.
When planning a lifestyle change it is important to look at the way you are going to achieve your goals. For example, there are many types of exercise... rather than just going to the gym or going to a fitness class, do some research and try and find a type of fitness that you might enjoy more, or a new type of exercise you would like to try. The excitement of trying new things is a good form of motivation.
One of the main factors in a lifestyle change, such as getting fit and losing weight, is the major change to a lifestyle that we are happy and comfortable with. To sustain a change takes determination, but can be made easier if you take into account the following items: Remember, a New Years Resolution is not motivation in itself. When you are tying to achieve change in your life it is not easy, but when you have achieved your goals you feel as if you are conquering your world. Good luck
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