Fitness and weight loss is a topic that has saturated the internet with a massive amount of information, some true, and some less so. A beginner or an enthusiast may find it difficult to even begin due to the sheer volume. The main mistake many beginners make is that weight loss or fitness is a short-term commitment or that it can be done once and forgotten about. This falsehood is perpetuated by many organisations claiming to have a miracle cure for obesity or a get-thin quick scheme.
The fact that this is a lie that many are willing to hear, help spread it. But the truth, no matter how distasteful it is, is that losing weight or getting in shape is long, gruelling work. It is in fact, an adjustment to one’s lifestyle that should be maintained over the course of one’s life. Reverting back to old habits would mean reverting back to old weights or body shapes. This is why most fitness programmes such as health retreat Sunshine Coast involve building habits that people pick up and maintain over longer times. It is also the reason for many fitness programmes to last many months or years and build communities of supportive people to reinforce commitment and help those who struggle.
Set Realistic Goals
It is vital to admit that it is virtually impossible to look like Superman within a few months of training. In fact, without dedicated training for multiple hours a day, eating habits, and personal trainers, most bodies you see in the movie industry are unachievable. That is not to say that you can’t be healthy, however. Moderate goals and steady work over a longer period will do more for overall health than a brief period of intense training that will burn you out. This is also true for overly strict diets where people are tempted to have cheat days that undo weeks of progress, and a small relapse will result in gaining back all the lost weight and a little extra.
Sleep well
Getting a good nights’ sleep and adequate rest is as important as diet and exercise. Our body repairs itself while we sleep, and our muscles grow to adapt to our days’ work. Insufficient sleep is one of the risk factors for Obesity with almost a 90% correlation in children and over 50% in adults.
Eat Healthy
Eating healthy is not the same thing as dieting. Eating healthy is much more effective in that it actually works towards fitness or weight loss. Dieting is depriving the body of food whereas eating healthy is replacing your existing food habits with healthier ones. This helps you stay healthy in the longer term. Diets are an indicator of future weight gain is simply not eating is not a healthy way to manage weight.
The bottom line is that a well-rounded lifestyle is healthy and getting fit should be treated as a lifestyle adjustment. Making an effort on just one aspect is less effective and gives less leeway if one were to fall back on it. Consistent effort in all aspects is key, even if it may be slower.