Maintaining Diet And Exercise Goals

By Arnim Krause

If one is trying to shed a few pounds or simply get healthier, one must diet and exercise. You can do diet or exercise individually, but one's best bet for ultimate success is to do both together.

It is so hard to keep your goals and stay motivated as you train. So many things get in the way - life is crazy and work is stressful, or small children demand time. It can be so hard to keep workouts and eat right. These things make it even more essential that you stay with your goals. It is not easy, but there are a few things you can do to remind yourself of your goals.

Find a buddy. This is probably one of the most useful things that can be done when setting goals. Another person knowing your goals and weaknesses will hold you accountable, so they can cheer you on to your goals. Let them know what you plan for your goals and have them help you maintain them. Have them share everything with you, from work outs to what you eat and low fat recipes, and keep each other updated on how you are doing. When someone is waiting for you to go to a work out, that will give you that little push to the gym on the days when you don't want to go.

Having a schedule and routine is another good idea. Decide when you workout best and stay to that time. If you are more of a morning person, get up in the morning and start your day off with a run or aerobics. If you have more energy or time in the evening, have your work out occur in the evening. No matter what, make it a routine. It takes about three weeks to create a habit, and if you work out consistently, you can help make exercise a habit.

This also applies to diet. Eating on a schedule can keep you from severely deviating due to hunger, so make sure that routine plays into this part of your life as well.

Keep your goals in mind at all times. A good idea is to mark every day you keep your goal on a calendar, posted on the refrigerator or somewhere visible. Keep your goals in mind daily through sticky notes or joining online groups.

Make sure your goals are reasonable. Aim high, but have a few goals within easy reach. It's good to have a short-term and long-term goal. A short-term goal could be something simple such as "eat healthy five days in a row" or "Work out five days a week for a month." The important thing about short-term goals is that they are within reach and attainable. Long-term goals could be anything from living a healthier lifestyle to large weight loss goals.

Whatever you do, do not be discouraged and give up. Diet and exercise are difficult. Challenges will come. If you make mistakes, skip exercise or eat too much fatty food or gain weight, just forgive yourself. Everyone makes a few mistakes. Just do not let it keep you from getting back to your goals. These are habits you will keep forever, and it takes a little time to get them. It is possible, and the results are more than worth the sacrifice.

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