Consistency Is Key
It can seem very daunting to make the right changes to live a healthier life. I think we are all to a certain extent impatient and looking for the outcome quicker than is healthy.
Most of the people I see have tried to change too many things in their life at one time. It usually leads to despondency and believing you can't actually achieve that healthier life.
My top tip is to be consistent with one thing. If you currently aren't moving at all, start there. Find one way to be active every day. Walk to work, walk at lunch time, set up a walking or 0-5k running group with friends or work colleagues. It's a great way to fit in that activity and make it a lot more sociable and usually a lot more fun!
I'm often asked "what's the best type of exercise for me to do?" The simple answer is anything that you actually ENJOY :) If you were a great swimmer as a kid, get back in the pool for 20 mins. If running was your thing, then get your trainers on and go and walk and run for 20 mins! If you have no idea what you enjoy, then find out what classes are on locally and try a different class every week, yoga, body combat, circuit training, Pilates anything that sounds appealing! You won't know what floats your boat until you try! Ask friends and colleagues what they enjoy and give that a go!
Or if you know that you are not eating nearly enough vegetables or too much of the sweet stuff then start there. Make one change until that change has become a habit, then move onto the next thing. Cutting back is much easier than cutting out when it comes to food or drinks. So have less chocolate per week but don't go into monk mode and try to survive off lentils and kale (unless you find that idea really exciting!)
So, now you have found something that is enjoyable and (a little challenging maybe!) then it's time to sow the seed of consistency.
Building consistency is about making it happen every day (even when you feel tired or grumpy!) In fact, especially when you feel like that! You don't have to workout for an hour a day and it's probably too much anyway if it's been a while since you last exercised regularly.
I don't know where the magic hour number came from but it's perfectly achievable to work out for less time and be healthier.
Adding variety to the forms of activity you choose is great if you are someone who hasn't quite found a type of exercise you adore (but I hope you do in this process!) Being with others, sharing in the fun and the challenges is a great way to keep you coming back for more! It makes us feel we are part of a team. I love swimming with my squad or I would spend a huge amount of time training on my own each week.
It's much easier to make exercise consistent in your life if you can achieve 20-30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week for the long term. The government guideline is for 2.5 hours of exercise a week and it's okay to build up to that if you aren't already exercising.
The key is to make it completely achievable so that you can be consistent for months and years not for just 6 weeks! Do less, more often and you will be surprised how quickly it becomes easier to do. Don't think about things too much, focus on what you want to achieve, make it happen and fully believe it will be a consistent part of your life.
These days everyone's lives are full and being consistent is easier when it's small manageable chunks of time. So make one change to your exercise or eating, be proud you have taken action and enjoy the process of feeling healthier.
Most of the people I see have tried to change too many things in their life at one time. It usually leads to despondency and believing you can't actually achieve that healthier life.
My top tip is to be consistent with one thing. If you currently aren't moving at all, start there. Find one way to be active every day. Walk to work, walk at lunch time, set up a walking or 0-5k running group with friends or work colleagues. It's a great way to fit in that activity and make it a lot more sociable and usually a lot more fun!
I'm often asked "what's the best type of exercise for me to do?" The simple answer is anything that you actually ENJOY :) If you were a great swimmer as a kid, get back in the pool for 20 mins. If running was your thing, then get your trainers on and go and walk and run for 20 mins! If you have no idea what you enjoy, then find out what classes are on locally and try a different class every week, yoga, body combat, circuit training, Pilates anything that sounds appealing! You won't know what floats your boat until you try! Ask friends and colleagues what they enjoy and give that a go!
Or if you know that you are not eating nearly enough vegetables or too much of the sweet stuff then start there. Make one change until that change has become a habit, then move onto the next thing. Cutting back is much easier than cutting out when it comes to food or drinks. So have less chocolate per week but don't go into monk mode and try to survive off lentils and kale (unless you find that idea really exciting!)
So, now you have found something that is enjoyable and (a little challenging maybe!) then it's time to sow the seed of consistency.
Building consistency is about making it happen every day (even when you feel tired or grumpy!) In fact, especially when you feel like that! You don't have to workout for an hour a day and it's probably too much anyway if it's been a while since you last exercised regularly.
I don't know where the magic hour number came from but it's perfectly achievable to work out for less time and be healthier.
Adding variety to the forms of activity you choose is great if you are someone who hasn't quite found a type of exercise you adore (but I hope you do in this process!) Being with others, sharing in the fun and the challenges is a great way to keep you coming back for more! It makes us feel we are part of a team. I love swimming with my squad or I would spend a huge amount of time training on my own each week.
It's much easier to make exercise consistent in your life if you can achieve 20-30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week for the long term. The government guideline is for 2.5 hours of exercise a week and it's okay to build up to that if you aren't already exercising.
The key is to make it completely achievable so that you can be consistent for months and years not for just 6 weeks! Do less, more often and you will be surprised how quickly it becomes easier to do. Don't think about things too much, focus on what you want to achieve, make it happen and fully believe it will be a consistent part of your life.
These days everyone's lives are full and being consistent is easier when it's small manageable chunks of time. So make one change to your exercise or eating, be proud you have taken action and enjoy the process of feeling healthier.
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