Health Kick Hit a Standstill? Here’s How to Get it Going Again
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Featured Contributor
We’re at that time of year when many of us are on a bit of a
health kick. January when we feel guilty about Christmas
overindulgence, and June/July, as we’re preparing for our summer holidays
and worrying about fitting into a bikini are busy times for gyms and personal
trainers. We all suddenly decide that we need to diet, get more exercise, and
make other lifestyle changes that could help us to lose
weight, look and feel better, and improve our fitness.
Photo Credit - Unsplash
Health
kicks tend to start well. We got in with great intentions and massive
goals. We hit the gym hard and restrict our calorific intake. In the first few
weeks, we can see the pounds drop off and notice real changes in both our
bodies and our stamina. Then, it’s all too common for things to hit a
standstill. The results stop coming or slow down drastically. You might even
start falling back into old habits, and your muscles certainly won’t keep
growing at the same rate. This can be demoralising, and when you get upset with
your lack of progress, it’s all too easy to give up. But, that would be a
mistake. You’ve worked so hard. Instead of giving up on your health kick, let’s
look at some ways to get it back on track.
Assess Your Progress
Early targets are often unrealistic. So, if you haven’t hit
yours yet, it might be time to reassess, now that you can see how your body is
changing. Ask yourself if you might already be where you want to be? And if
progress has slowed because your body is where it needs to be. Look back at all
that you have achieved, celebrate how far you’ve come and let yourself feel
good about it. Then, decide if you want to carry on.
Break Your Goals Down
If you still want to aim for that one big target, or you’ve
set a new one, you might find it useful to break it down. Set smaller targets,
like fitness
goals, trying not to make them all about weight. This gives you more to aim
for, and realistic targets that you can hit are significant confidence boosts
and motivators.
Educate Yourself
Most of us know so little about our health. Do you know what
you should be eating and drinking? How much protein your body needs? Which
exercises you should be doing to work the parts of your body that you want to
change? Educate yourself, speak to a trainer, and learn to listen to your own
body. Learn more about your own personal
health and fitness, and you’ll be better equipped to make changes.
Change Your Workouts
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Our bodies adapt. They get used to things. Those workouts
that were productive weeks ago won’t have the same effects if you keep on doing
them. You need to keep pushing your body, and to do this, you need to shock it
with new workouts. Try different things, hit different muscle groups, and try
classes and plans. Don’t stick to the same thing and wonder why it isn’t
working for you.
Add Some Healthy Snacks
Most of us just assume that the less we eat, the more weight
we will lose. But, this isn’t usually the case, at least not long term. If you
want exercise to improve your body and tone your muscles, you need to feed
them. You won’t get the most out of exercise if you are starving yourself. If
you’ve been restricting your calories, it’s time to add some healthy, high in
protein and energy-boosting snacks. If you need extra help, you might find a
protein supplement beneficial.
Go to Bed Earlier
Staying up too late, or otherwise, not getting enough sleep
can have a terrible effect on your health and fitness. Not getting enough sleep
means that your body is never getting the chance to recover from the day. After
exercise, this can mean that your muscles aren’t getting the opportunity to
repair after a workout, which in turn means that they never start the next
workout at their best. You will always be on the back foot. It’s also more
tempting to eat unhealthy fast food when you are tired. So, if your health kick
has hit a standstill, try going to bed a little earlier, and sticking to a
sleep routine.
Take a Break
Sometimes we push too hard. Occasionally, we get bored.
Either add a day off to your schedule or take a complete break and have some
fun. You’ll return feeling refreshed and ready to work hard.
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