Imagine Fitness

I was reading the other day about fitness related ideas and came across on the MSN website reasons why some of us experience workout burnout. You know what I mean, you know you should exercise, but just can’t seem to get it together and get back on track.  I want to share these with you, so you can overcome the setbacks and stay on track with your progress.

1. First stage is the ‘Honeymoon’ phase of exercise. You start off with a bang and  resolve to exercise everyday and lose 20 pounds in a month. Before long you realize perhaps you set the bar to high. Start off slowly, with doing the lowest amount of reps and sets and using light weights. It is better to under workout in the beginning that start with a bang and slow down due to extreme soreness.

2. Second stage is ‘Disenchantment.‘ After the first few weeks if your progress is slow and you are not seing the results you want, you start to back off. This is where having clearly defined goals is going to get you through. Perhaps a short term goal in the beginning would be to increase the amount of time you spend exercising, rather than focusing on pounds lost. Set small improvements and you won’t be disappointed.

3. Third stage is ‘Stalling”. You will use almost any excuse not to workout. The weather, stress, your family, or you convince yourself you just don’t have the time. Perhaps you need to try something new, if you always do cardio indoors, take it outdoors and go for a walk.

4.Fourth stage is ‘Frustration”. Exercise starts to slip from your list of priorities. Make a schedule and stick to it. Don’t let anything interfere, view it just like any other appointment, doctor or dentist that you wouldn’t cancel. Stick with it for 5 weeks, and you will have developed a new habit.