Many of us think about starting a new life on Monday: exercising, eating right, going to bed before midnight, and not spending all our free time at the computer. But then another Monday arrives, and nothing in our lives has changed.
Of course, we always easily find an excuse why it was impossible to start living a new life on this particular Monday, but I suggest you stop misleading yourself and just do everything possible to make this planned life begin today.
What is the goal?
The first steps are always the hardest, but once you overcome that barrier, the rest becomes easier. Have you ever watched children learning to walk? It's amazing how persistent they are in their pursuit of this new skill. Why? Because they have a clear goal, one that makes them willing to fall and get back up again.
The first thing you need to do is understand why you want to exercise regularly. It's crucial to answer this question honestly. For some, the goal is to fit into their old favorite jeans; for others, it's a lack of confidence due to an extra roll of belly fat and they want to get rid of it; for others, it's to be able to climb stairs without feeling out of breath; for others, it's to make “all the girls in the department swoon with envy.”
Think about what your ultimate goal is, the one you're willing to devote time and effort to. It's likely not a single goal, but a whole series. Write them all down on a piece of paper and hang it somewhere visible. You can also place motivating pictures next to the paper—a photo of yourself in those jeans or a photo from a few years ago when you looked the way you'd like to look now.
What will I get if I start studying?
To commit to your first session, you need to motivate yourself, and the big goals you've written down on a piece of paper probably won't be enough. You need to take another piece of paper and write down rewards and penalties for your successes and minor deviations from your plan.
It's crucial to reward yourself for your first lesson, your first week, your first month, three months, six months, and a year. For each milestone you reach, you should set a highly desirable prize that will truly motivate you.
For example, if you've been wanting to buy yourself a stunning Karen Millen dress but thought it was too expensive, write it down as one of your rewards for the first week of classes and start working toward your willpower gift. To avoid the urge to deviate from your planned course, write down what you'll be missing out on if you postpone classes again.
Don't forget that it's important to include penalties that will truly hurt you. For example, for every day you delay your class start, you shorten your future vacation by one day. Prizes and penalties don't necessarily have to be material; perhaps the best gift would be a two-hour bubble bath with your favorite magazine, while the worst punishment would be having to scrub the floors.
To tell or to hide?
Once you've outlined your rewards, penalties, and goals, try to share your plans with as many people as possible. Don't hide or delay the news until you see the results; share them now.
Why do this? Because people will often ask how things are going, whether you're following your plan, whether you're making progress, how you managed to look so good, etc. Knowing that not only you but also your friends and family are watching will make it much harder to just give up.
Should I follow the results?
Registering on a website dedicated to helping athletes and weight loss can also be a great help. This way, you can track when and what you did, how long it took, and how many calories you burned. Most importantly, you'll be able to record all your body data and track your progress. If you're not a fan of such websites, create a spreadsheet and record your workout results. This spreadsheet should clearly demonstrate how well you're moving toward your goal.
What to do after missing a class?
Never despair because, despite your motivation and goals, you somehow missed your workout or gorged on pastries the night before. Allow yourself the room for error. If you've strayed from the path, it doesn't mean you can't get back on track. Just tell yourself that you're taking today off, but will still train as planned the next day.
The hardest part is the first month. After that, your body will naturally start asking for exercise, and you won't want to say no. Plus, the noticeable results of your efforts will be a pleasant bonus.
The last piece of advice I'd like to give is this: don't push yourself too hard right from the start; this will only lead to potential setbacks and deviations from your plan. Start slowly, working out a few times a week for at least 10 minutes, then half an hour, and eventually you might want to work out every day. The main goal isn't to lose weight or change your size in the shortest possible time, but to learn to live a new, healthy life where you exercise easily and enjoy it, where you fit into anything you want, and where your friends constantly ask how you manage to look so great.
You can definitely do it, you just have to start doing it right now!
