Tips for Starting an Active Lifestyle
by Ellie Stewart
There are many advantages to having an active lifestyle such as feeling and looking good, minimal aches and pains, higher immune system so you get sick less often, less stress, clearer thinking, less risk of debilitating diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis, increased stamina and the list goes on.
Having an active lifestyle basically means having a moderate amount of physical activity each day. 30 minutes is considered the minimum amount of activity one should have each day if you wish to maintain your health levels, but if you want to improve your health and appearance, then more than 30 minutes a day is needed so each minute over the 30 minutes is an achievement that you can be proud of.
Set a realistic goal
The first thing a lot of people do wrong is to set their goals too far ahead. Sure, it's great to think of how great you'll look in that little black dress (or suit for the guys) or how good you'll feel when you no longer have those irritating back or leg aches. Think about how attractive you'll be. But then when it comes to actually doing it, ensure that you set a reasonable goal. Don't think about the final result because that's a big jump. The brain accepts the idea of what you want to accomplish in the end and without you realizing it, your brain will expect that at the end of each activity. This will set you up for a fall each time the brain realizes it hasn't happened at the end of the day. So let's reprogram the brain so that it expects realistic results thereby helping to eliminate let downs.
Assuming you choose a daily walk to get you started on your active lifestyle, all you have to do is to say "I will walk for half an hour and return. That's all I have to do." And then no matter what, you force those legs to stand and do it. Psychologically, instead of thinking of it in terms of walking for an hour, you're thinking of taking a half an hour walk and then going home. Of course you know it is an hour, but it really does make a difference how you present the issue to your brain. Tell your brain that all you have to do is to do it once. You'll worry about the other days and the other activities when you come to them. Your brain realizes that the goal is reachable and will help you to achieve it. You are not attempting to do months of exercise in one hit, you are only needing to get to the end of the first one.
Then when you want to do the next activity you've set that day such as walking up steps, you do the same thing "All I have to do is take the first step." And you make yourself do it. While you're doing it, you're telling yourself "Just one more step, one more step." Pretty soon you'll realize that you're over half way and of course that means you're on the home stretch so then it's not one more step to get up the steps, it's one more step to success. How wonderful.
The next day when it comes to doing it again, do the same thing again. "I did it yesterday so I can do it today." Think of all the good things you noticed from the day before. Perhaps you were less sleepy that afternoon or perhaps you could breathe a little easier. Perhaps your stamina was greater. Perhaps your mind was thinking clearer - oh, and singles - don't forget that you're creating more opportunities to meet Mr or Ms right!
Work simply. Don't go nuts spending thousands of dollars on equipment to get fit. Just use items that are around you or use your good old legs and arms in a natural way and get into a routine before spending money on your lifestyle unless of course you get involved in some fabulous outdoor fun activity that you can't resist.
Help yourself succeed
The only reason we will continue to do something is if we feel we're getting something out of it. The memory can sometimes be a fickle thing and in a very busy life, it is hard to remember everything. So the answer is to write down your progress. This will encourage you to continue and help to avoid those moments where you may be tempted to slack off.
Before you start, buy a notebook or journal. Take your measurements and weight if you want to. For some people this doesn't work well because it makes them feel bad, but if you don't mind, then write them down. It's no big deal if they're not the measurements you'd like to see. It's only a starting place so it's okay. Tell yourself that your real measurements are the ones that you'll take at the end when you reach your goal.
Then write down the health issues and symptoms you're experiencing including diseases, illnesses, aches and pains, physical actions that are difficult etc. Take note of your skin colour, hair condition etc. too. You will be amazed at how many changes can occur just from the small modifications in your activity levels. As these things disappear or improve, make a note of it and in a very short time you'll beam with pride and health.
At the end of the day, grab your journal and keep a record of your progress. Don't just write down what you've done, but make sure that you think of how wonderful you are for doing it. Appreciate the effort you've made. Don't think of it as just one time. Consider it to be the start of many such days. Think of it as a wonderful achievement that you didn't do the day before - it's positive and it's a step forward. Also reflect on all the things about it that weren't so bad. Perhaps you had a beautiful view that gave you a sense of peace, perhaps you met someone new that could become a friend or there may be the potential of it. Perhaps the exercise wasn't as bad as you expected and it wasn't as tiring as you expected. This helps remove any obstacles that your brain is planning to present to you the next time you intend to exercise.
Remove distractions by ensuring the television is turned off, tempting treats are out of sight, even take the phone off the hook if you need to, but if you find that you tend to allow something to put you off taking that walk, then recognize this as the brain's way of looking for obstacles and barriers to your success and remove them. Often others around us who would love to achieve the same things as us but feel that they don't have the same ability to achieve it will sabotage your efforts. This is to prevent you from being a reminder of what they perceive as being a failure so be alert to these attempts and ensure that you don't allow them to succeed. They won't be aware that they're doing it so don't take it personally, just use the information to your advantage and prevent them from stopping you.
Finally, it's very important that you value yourself. You are important and you are beautiful no matter how you see yourself. If you feel that you could improve some areas of yourself, then this is just a task to be achieved, not a personal failure. If you are important enough to consider improving yourself then you are important enough to continue and succeed. Use affirmations and other helpful tools to achieve your goal. Your strongest aid will be a good state of mind. Don't believe the negative things others say. Just tell yourself the positive things that you need to know in order to get through and if others don't have faith in you, well that really isn't important because it's only their opinion and that doesn't make it so. You came into this world alone and ultimately the only person in this world that you can guarantee is there at all times to help you is yourself. You are your caretaker so take care of yourself in the same way you'd take care of the most precious person you know.
Don't give up
The most important factor is to remember to stick with it. Even if it's inconvenient, our lifestyle and the convenience of technology means that we don't get the same exercise as we once did. We no longer till the soil, sow the seeds etc. by hand and the advantage to that sort of lifestyle was that it was hard and we automatically stayed fit without having to give a second thought to it. So even though our lifestyles have changed, the way our bodies work haven't and they still need to be maintained as lovingly and regularly as our beloved vehicles. So sometimes viewing it as a machine that needs to be tended will help us to remember areas that can help support your lifestyle change. Like any machine, the body needs the correct fuel, use and maintenance.
If you have a relapse, don't worry about it. Most of us feel like we've ruined all of our work and can't possibly regain where we were. This is untrue. Every cell in your body has a memory and because you've already started on your program, even if it's only one day, the body remembers the effort that you've put in. It takes only 50% of that time to get back to where you were before. So for example, if you worked out for 3 months and then slackened off for a month and regained some weight. Don't let it worry you. It will only take half that time to get back to where you were so get right back on that horse and keep going. Don't allow that to make you think you're a loser or a quitter. You are human and have many sides to your personality such as a survivor and a determined person so you can do it - just take that one step again and then another until you're right back where you got to and then keep going.
Have Fun
The best way to add activity to your life is to find a new and fun activity that you haven't done for a while or have always wanted to try. This way you'll achieve your goals and it won't seem like a chore. Why not go to the local park and kick a ball around with your friends. Sometimes returning to those fun things you did when you were a kid can make you feel younger in spirit too. Dancing, bike riding, swimming, roller blading, ice skating, surfing and similar activities will add fun to your routine and get you out in the fresh air or mixing with new people.
Assist your efforts by introducing a healthy eating plan and drinking plenty of water and you'll be well on your way to ensuring a longer, healthier and happier life.
Why not let us know how you're going with your wonderful progress by sharing it on the forum so that we can help support you in your goal and congratulate your achievements. You'll be an inspiration to others.