There’s Never the ‘Right Time’ so Start Today

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Chloe Amor-Hurd, Online Coach & Personal Trainer, gives us her expert guidance on how to set and achieve your health and fitness goals this spring

As we enter the season of summer where flowers flourish, lambs are leaping, the sun shines bright and the energy in the air is high, now is the perfect time to implement those changes you keep meaning to make.

Do you have something that you want to include into your life?

Maybe the past year has made you realise how important your own health is, and you are keen to start somewhere. But, quite frankly, it all seems overwhelming and you are not sure where to start? You are not alone.

First of all, applaud yourself for even having these thoughts and wanting to bring positive changes into your life. It’s a great start! Hopefully, with my guidance, your goal will feel achievable and an exciting place to start.

Begin small

We often set a vague goal such as ‘I want to get fit and feel healthier’. This is a great incentive, but not a specific goal, making it challenging for you to try and tackle, let alone achieve.

You may give it a go for a week, telling yourself you’re going to workout daily and resist eating that chocolate in the cupboard. This could work for the first few days, until your motivation runs low. You then get to the weekend and have a ‘treat’ which ends up being not just a portion of chocolate but the whole sharing bar. Sadly, this may leave you feeling down, like you have failed, then you may start again on the Monday.

This vicious cycle then repeats.

YOU have NOT failed. The approach above has failed you.

Make it easy for yourself. Make it sustainable. And most importantly enjoyable!

Here’s how:

  1. Write down your goal.
  2. Now break that target down into small specific ones, these will culminate into your achieving that final goal.

For example:

GOAL: “I want to get fit and feel healthier“

Specific Goals:

  • Every time I go to the local shop, I will walk
  • I am going to schedule in one workout per week
  • Each time I go to the supermarket, I am going to buy a new vegetable to increase variety and portions
  • I am going to take a new route to work to remove temptation by that takeaway or bakery!
  • I am going to get off one stop before my usual on the bus/tube and walk the rest
  • I am going to get the kids involved with cooking and let them choose a new recipe from that recipe book that’s been sitting on my shelf for years each week and cook with them
  • I’m going to take the stairs instead of the lift where and whenever possible

All of these specific goals are things you can implement today which take you a step closer to your goal.

Now, pick one of those specific goals to start with.

For the new behaviour to take place you need two out of three of the below:

  1. High Motivation
  2. Ability
  3. Prompt

So let us take one specific goal: ‘I am going to schedule in one workout a week’.

Is your motivation to work out high? Maybe not, but you know you have to do it to get fit.

Is your ability to work out high? Yes, you have a yoga mat and some resistance bands at home. You also have a gym membership!

Is your prompt there? No, but you could create a prompt quite easily by making yourself accountable to someone. Either invest in a personal trainer so they can coach you towards your goals or hook up with a friend. You now have the ability and a prompt to make this behaviour achievable.

Work on each specific goal until you feel it’s become a part of your life. Then look at implementing the next specific goal. Over time, all of these specific goals will be included into your lifestyle which results in your main goal being achieved!

Find out more at www.bodymynd.co.uk.