Aligning Your Lifestyle With Your Fitness Dreams
Having a dream to achieve your fitness goals is common for a lot of people. We all have that ideal image of ourselves that we aspire to, or how we want to feel, but sometimes it seems impossible to attain. You wake up feeling motivated and ready to take on the world, but as soon as you step out of bed, reality sets in. You realise that your current lifestyle doesn’t align with your fitness dreams.
This realisation can be a hard pill to swallow. You may have a sedentary job that requires you to sit for long hours, leaving you with little time to exercise,or you may have a busy schedule that makes it difficult to find time to prepare healthy meals. It’s also possible that you have unhealthy eating habits that are hard to break.
Taking a holistic approach
The problem is not that you can’t achieve your fitness dreams, but rather that you need to align your lifestyle with your goals. It’s important to take a holistic approach to health and wellness, focusing not only on physical fitness but also on your mental and emotional well-being.
There are many ways to align your lifestyle with your fitness dreams but the first is to set realistic goals. Instead of aiming for drastic weight loss, rapid muscle gain or a complete overhaul of your diet, you should start with small changes that you can maintain over time. For instance, you could commit to 30 minutes of exercise every day or swapping out sugary drinks for water.
Another way is to find activities that you enjoy. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. You should find activities that you enjoy, such as dancing, hiking, or playing a sport. When you come to the gym, tell your Personal Trainer which routines you enjoy more and they can help tailor your workouts to include more of these exercises (there will still be some you don’t enjoy though I’m afraid – burpee anyone?!). When you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s easier to stick with it and make it a regular part of your routine.
Getting enough sleep
Prioritising sleep is also crucial for both physical and mental health. You should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night and establish a consistent sleep schedule. This will help regulate your body’s internal clock and improve the quality of your sleep. Getting some good shut-eye lowers your stress levels and helps your muscles recuperate after a workout, as an added bonus exercising makes you sleep better too!
You are what you eat
Mindful eating is another way to align your lifestyle with your fitness dreams. Paying attention to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, as well as the taste and texture of your food can help you make healthier choices and avoid overeating. Remember, you can’t out train a poor diet. Unfortunately some people will find their journey more difficult and are even wired to eat more. This is where choices matter. Filling up on fruits, veggies and lean protein will help increase satiety and stave off hunger.
Check out the recipe library on our website for well portioned, balanced meal ideas.
Lowering stress
Finally, you should find ways to manage your stress. Stress can have a negative impact on both physical and mental health. You can manage your stress through exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones. Avoiding or reducing alcohol, cigarettes, sugar and caffeine can also lower your stress levels, despite being the things most people go to when stressed.
Achieving your fitness dreams is never a quick fix. It requires a commitment to making sustainable lifestyle changes that align with your goals. By taking a holistic approach to health and wellness, you can achieve the fitness levels you’ve always dreamed of while also improving your overall quality of life.
