Looking to start a healthkick on January 1st (or 2nd due to the hangover) as your NYR? You’re not alone. Sadly, though, the majority will be destined for failure.
Very simple mistakes could instantly limit your hopes of success. Here are five of the most common issues that may potentially hold you back. Go the extra mile to avoid them all costs and you’ll be far more likely to see positive results.
#1. Focusing On Restrictive Behaviors
Many people think about weight loss or making restrictive changes like not drinking alcohol in January. Moderation is important. But the limiting behaviors will often result in temporary progress followed by future regression. For true success, you must focus on a lifestyle upgrade.
Rather than removing the things you love from your diet, you should focus on the items that can be added to your diet. This allows you to develop a healthier relationship with food. And make smarter decisions without cutting anything out. Similarly, you should focus on the positives that exercise brings to your life rather than what it might stop you from doing.
A strong mindset is the greatest tool at your disposal by far. The sooner you embrace this, the sooner your journey will become smoother.
#2. Your Training Isn’t Tailored To You
It is very easy to throw yourself into training routines that you think will deliver the biggest results. However, consistency is king when looking to transform your body or lifestyle for the better. Therefore, it’s vital that you find a strategy that is truly tailored to your needs and enjoyment.
For starters, you must take your physical limitations into account. Choosing senior exercises, for example, can help prevent injuries while also working on issues like bone density. Meanwhile, if you hate running, it makes more sense to focus on incline walks or swimming as well as strength training. If you don’t enjoy training, you’ll inevitably give up within weeks.
Conversely, training that is tailored to you will encourage sustainability. For this reason, you will also need to consider your schedule.
#3. You Are Too Focused On The Scales
Success can be defined in many ways. While most people will use the scales as a useful tool, it should not be the only factor. If you feel happier with your appearance and healthier as a result of the healthkick, it’s a winner. The scales are only truly significant if you were obese at the start of a cut.
If you could see what a pound of fat looks like, you’d see that even a small loss is an achievement. Likewise, toning up could see you gain muscle simultaneously, meaning your weight won’t fall. As such, setting performance-based goals for workouts can be vital. Especially when combined with focusing on how you look and feel rather than the scale.
Shifting your mindset in this way can feel a little strange. However, the results of mastering it are too big to ignore.
#4. There’s No Social Element
Your healthkick is a personal challenge, but you don’t have to face the journey alone. Working out with friends could manifest as taking a group exercise class or playing team sports. The social edge gives you an extra incentive to stay on track while it can also provide an outlet to pick up valuable tips.
A social element can also add a sense of healthy competition. This drives you on to take accountability for your healthy living journey while also supporting friends. Other ways to add a social element include cooking with the family or hosting dinner parties with other healthy living fans. You could even arrange fitness-based retreats or days out.
This is a simple step that will make you hold onto the new lifestyle even when your routines become difficult.
#5. You Don’t Want It
The harsh reality is that you cannot change your life unless you actually want to. There will be times when healthy living feels difficult or inconvenient. Only a genuine passion, along with belief in the process, will lead you to success. Without those features, you will inevitably fall back into old habits.
Your motivation could come from several sources. Whether it’s playing a more active role with the kids or building self-confidence doesn’t matter. Once you unlock the true source of ongoing motivation, it can be used to keep you on the right path at all times. Even when you really do not feel like hitting the gym or making the healthy meal choice.
Starting a healthkick because you feel like you should simply won’t work. But when you combine motivation with a defined strategy, success will follow.
