When you flip through fitness magazines, you’ll see story after story about celebrity personal trainers who boast Hollywood A-listers among their clientele and claim to work wonders. While hiring a personal trainer can provide you with some much-needed motivation as well as new techniques into your workout routine, not all of us have the resources to do so on a long term basis. Why not take matters into your own hands? It’s easy — read on to find out more.
Understanding your motivations
Understanding your motivations is key to an effective workout routine as it helps you craft specific goals. Ask yourself why you want to exercise more. Here are some common fitness motivations.
- I want to lower my risk of heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, and live a healthier and longer life.
- I want to feel happier about my appearance.
- I want to fit into the clothes I used to wear when I was younger.
- I want to be able to take long walks with my loved ones without feeling out of breath.
Setting targets
Now that you know your motivations, it’s time to engage in a goal-setting exercise. What do you expect to achieve from your exercise routine in the near future? When setting goals, it’s wise to adhere to the S.M.A.R.T. maxim:
- Specific. Well-defined goals prevent you from slacking off and help instill fitness discipline. Instead of a vague goal such as “I will work out more”, set a precise target such as going to the gym for four 30-minute sessions each week.
- Measurable. To evaluate your progress, it needs to be measurable. For example, you could aim to run 8km in a month’s time, or burn 500 calories in the gym per week.
- Achievable and realistic. Goals should help you stay motivated, not set you up for disappointment. Remember that every little bit of progress counts – instead of setting unrealistic targets such as losing 10kg in one month, aim to lose 1kg per week.
- Timely. You’ll find it easier to stay disciplined if you set a deadline to achieve your goals. Taking into account your work and family commitments, settle on a realistic deadline.
Staying motivated
Personal trainers motivate clients by cheering them on, giving them pep talks and showering them with compliments. How can you stay motivated without these little ego boosts?
- Train with others. Do you know friends, family members or colleagues who are trying to get fitter? Work out with them, so you can motivate each other! It’s even better if you train with someone fitter than you, as this gives you something to work towards and ensures you’ll keep pushing yourself.
- Celebrate every success, no matter how small. Remember that getting fitter doesn’t happen overnight. Every pound shed, every minute shaved off your running time and every weight plate you add to your squat contributes towards a healthier you. So celebrate them. You’ve earned the right!
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