When the New Year hits, many of us jump straight into making our annual resolutions. And quite often, these resolutions are related to weight and health in some way, shape or form.
Many of us, however, face daunting fitness fears when it comes to improving our weight and health. These fears can prevent us from jumping into our goals with confidence and beginning the New Year off right.
Facing Your Fitness Fears: Beginning with Small Steps
Fortunately, you aren’t required to dive into fitness all at once. You don’t have to be an exercise buff to get started on your journey with movement!
In a recent blog post, we talked about how your fitness journey begins with progression. That’s the first step in overcoming your fears. If you aren’t used to exercise, consider a 10-20 minute walk a couple times a week to get your body moving and your blood pumping. You don’t have to follow any fitness “standards” like walking 10,000 steps a day or hitting the gym 3-4 times a week. The key is to find the right starting point for you, your own needs and your specific health goals.
But where do you go from there? Consider these additional tips for facing your fitness fears:
- Find Something You Enjoy – Exercise becomes less of a chore if you find an activity you particularly like. Not a fan of the gym? Go for a nature hike or bike ride.
- Find a Partner – Ask a family member or friend to exercise with you and distract you from the work.
- Reward Yourself – Did you conquer your goals for the week? Treat yourself to a non-food reward like a new item of clothing or a special day trip.
- Find an Exercise Time that Works for You – Do your days tend to get busier as time goes on? Schedule your workouts in the morning where there is less to distract you .
- Keep a Journal – Chart your emotions, challenges, accomplishments, physical changes, etc.
- Silence Your Thoughts – Turn up the volume on your workout music playlist to distract your mind.
Don’t be afraid to conquer your fitness goals this year. Take small steps, be strategic and you’ll accomplish what you set out for!
