David Saunders
There are very few things better than getting through a good workout. But many people tend to underestimate how detrimental small mistakes and seemingly harmless habits can be to their overall health goals.
Whether you are starting a new training program to partake in an exciting and challenging fitness competition, want to improve your cardiovascular health or finally find effective and sustainable ways to ditch bad habits, like meal prepping healthy meals to avoid takeout or consulting with businesses like Quit Clinics to help you stop smoking, set yourself up for success by recognizing harmful behaviors that can sabotage your ultimate success.
Unrealistic Goals
The quickest way to set yourself up for failure when starting any new fitness journey is to set yourself unrealistic goals. It is important to be realistic and honest with yourself when setting new fitness goals, as they can quickly undermine your confidence and sap your motivation to get moving.
While it is a fantastic idea to push yourself to achieve great things and hold yourself accountable with a selection of healthy accomplishments and fun rewards, you must ensure that what you hope to achieve is plausible. There is a stark difference between ambitious and impossible, and you should never lose sight of this.
If your ultimate goals feel out of reach, set yourself smaller, more attainable goals that will keep you motivated and help steer you in the right direction. The excitement and thrill of accomplishing these smaller goals will motivate you to achieve your bigger fitness dreams.
Finally, if you often find yourself failing to reach your goals, it is time to reassess the goal itself. Usually, people have a general idea of what they hope to achieve without establishing a concrete road map to get there. Simply losing weight, being healthy, and getting stronger are not measurable and are broad enough to look very different to different people. One of the best strategies you can employ when setting fitness goals is the SMART system. These goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.
Fatigue
Whether you suffer mentally or physically, fatigue is arguably one of the biggest roadblocks to achieving your goals. Fitness and physical activity require a lot of energy. Energy to get to the gym, to successfully complete your workout, to prepare healthy meals, and to consistently make positive and healthy choices. When combined with the regular stresses of daily life, it can feel even harder to maintain this grind.
When it comes to getting fit and healthy, your journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Changing 20 things at once can quickly become extremely overwhelming and challenging to maintain. Instead, make gradual yet deliberate changes to help you avoid burnout and build habits over time.
Additionally, try to schedule your workouts and meal-prep sessions for the times when you are at your most active and motivated. You are far more likely to complete these activities during these periods than during times when you typically relax and unwind.
Inconsistency
No matter how big or small your goals are, the most significant change you can achieve comes from sticking to your plan and remaining consistent on your journey. Sporadic workouts and the occasional healthy meal will not help you achieve the results you are after. Your positive changes should be made the majority of the time if you hope to make long-term, meaningful changes.
When first starting, one effective strategy to help you remain motivated and, most importantly, consistent is to commit to doing something new for a set amount of time. Studies show that it takes roughly 66 days for healthy eating to become an automatic habit, while physical activity needs approximately 200 days.
If you are having a difficult time sticking to new routines, commit to them for three months and assess how much your life changes during this period. If you can stick to something for three months, you will likely be able to maintain it long-term.
Repetitive Workouts
Once you find a workout routine or type of exercise you love and enjoy, it is very easy to make it into a habit. However, these habits can quickly become somewhat mundane over time, often leading to a fitness rut that goes far beyond simple boredom.
Working out typically involves trying new things and finding new ways to challenge your body, helping you improve and achieve new goals. Doing the same type of movement every single day will cause your body to hit a plateau, preventing you from progressing in your fitness.
Many trainers recommend switching up your workouts every four to six weeks, which gives you enough time to establish what you enjoy, what activities or techniques you need to work on, and how you can adapt and progress to achieve your goals.
Lack of Hydration
In nearly every aspect of health and fitness, one piece of advice that always holds true is to drink more water. This is particularly true when exercising, as many people often underestimate the amount of water their bodies need to function properly.
Water makes up so much of the human body, and is essential for keeping your body moving and sufficiently fueled for each workout, making it crucial to stay hydrated before, during, and after each session.
Medical experts recommend drinking at least 20 ounces of water during a 1-hour workout. This total may increase depending on personal preference and environmental factors such as high temperatures or outdoor exercise.
