You see it every time you drive down the highway, turn on the television, flip through a magazine and hear it when you listen to the radio: “improve your life through fitness and a healthy lifestyle!” The concept seems straightforward enough; eat well and exercise.

If the concept of being healthy and getting fit is so easy, why isn’t making it come to fruition as simple as sounds? The simplicity does not lie with finding gyms with spin classes alone; although spinning is a great workout with several health benefits, getting fit is much more involved.

Motivation

When you think of motivation for getting fit, you probably think about the end results; it’s not an unreasonable focus. As with any new venture or lifestyle change, in order to be successful, you must maintain focus. How do you do such a thing? Figure out your motivation. Are you getting fit for overall health? Do you want to look better in your clothes; or even without your clothes? To insure you are successful in your endeavor, you have to have a clear reason to help you stay on track when you feel like giving up. Identifying why you want to get healthier is just as important as the process of trying to reach that goal.

Baby Steps

Now that you understand why you want to be healthier, what exactly does that mean to you? A common mistake when undertaking a new lifestyle, is trying to make all the necessary changes at once. The start of anything new is exciting at the beginning. Keep in mind, you are in this for the long haul, so be sure to pace yourself. You are setting yourself up for certain failure if you try to run before you walk. Making too many drastic changes too quickly, when you meet resistance, you are likely to revert to your known and comfortable ways.

Change is not easy to embrace, so easing yourself into small changes over time, will serve you best in the long run. Set small goals. For example, choose one healthy change each week and build from that. Small steps in the right direction are always better than standing still or, worse yet, slipping into even unhealthier habits that will cause you even more work when you attempt again.

As you begin your journey, be cognizant that most of your success will come from the food you eat as opposed to the exercise regimen you adopt. No matter how much you work out, if you do not pay attention to what you are consuming, you will never achieve the results you want.

Stay Positive

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the changes you are making in order to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Knowing that going in, try to safeguard your success by maintaining a positive outlook. Celebrate your small victories and be proud of the small changes you make to better yourself.

If you like to treat yourself by spending time watching television, you may feel slightly deprived to cut your tv time out; if that is the case, reach a compromise with yourself. Instead of forgoing an enjoyable pastime, make that time dual purpose by incorporating various exercises you can do while still enjoying your favorite shows.

Deciding to become healthy and fit doesn’t mean you can no longer enjoy some of your favorite foods and meals, it just means you may have to modify how those foods are prepared. There is a myriad of healthier alternatives to more traditional meals; use others’ tried and true tips and recipes to your advantage and, instead of needless calories, savor the sweet success instead!

You have nothing to lose but extra inches and pounds by finding a healthy lifestyle that works for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to being fit; don’t be afraid to try whatever method happens to work for you. If you can’t find that perfect fit, modify what seems the most reasonable and say hello to the new, healthier you!