In part 1, we went over five powerful secrets to sticking with your weight loss routine. And from the feedback I've received, many of you found those tips helpful. So let's take it to the next level and share five even MORE powerful secrets guaranteed to turn your workouts into something you look forward to!
Read more ¿Qué más?: 5 Ways to get your workout to fly by faster
Set realistic goals. It's so important to set goals for yourself. Having something to strive for can give you that extra motivation you need to get out of the house and into the gym on days you're feeling down. But most people make a critical mistake when setting their goals. They aim too high, too fast. They set goals that are too hard to achieve and then become disappointed when they don't reach those goals.
The trick is to break up your goal into little "bite-sized" goals. Instead of losing 20 pounds in a month, focus on dropping the first five pounds first. Then once they're gone, go after the next five. Do this four times, and you've achieved the same goal–except this way, you've had four different reasons to celebrate!
Keep a journal. So now that your goals are set, you have to start tracking your progress. The best day to do this is by keeping a journal. It's a simple notepad where you write down your workouts for the day. You record what exercises you did, how long you spent doing them, how you felt, etc. If you're lifting weights, you keep track of how many pounds you used, how many reps you did, and so on. By keeping track of your workouts, you have absolute proof that your fitness levels are improving from week to week.
Become a "sampler." You know when you walk through a supermarket and they hand out free samples? A lot of times you may try a new food and then find out you love it, even though it's not something you ever would have thought of trying before! Well, the same principle applies to your workouts. There may be something you love to do and just don't know it yet. That's why you should always be trying new things. Sign up for a Zumba class. Take a swimming lesson. Show up for yoga night. Who knows–you may find something you love to do. And when you find that, it becomes easier than ever to melt those pounds.
Use a reward system. This goes hand-in-hand with setting those "bite-sized" goals. When you achieve one of those goals, make sure to reward yourself. For instance, let's say you were out shopping and saw a dress that you love. Here's what you do: aim to fit into that dress at one size smaller than you currently are. So the goal is to drop one dress size. Then when you achieve that goal, you reward yourself by buying that dress! By setting up reward milestones, you give yourself an incentive to try harder.
Remind yourself of your motivations. Focus on your goals. Don't allow yourself to become distracted. Decide why you really want to lose the weight–whether it's for health reasons, or for your wedding, or to look great on your summer vacation. That's up to you. But once you decide what's important, be sure to remind yourself of it daily. Let's use the wedding example. You're getting married this summer and you want to look amazing on your big day (and in all the pictures taken). Well, to remind yourself. go through the magazines, take pictures of brides, and put them around your house–on your bathroom mirror, on your refrigerator, etc. This way, each day you're constantly reminded of what you're trying to accomplish. Your brain stays focused on your goal and helps you achieve it.
This is extremely powerful. Once you put these secrets into use, you'll be amazed at how much easier it is to stick with your workout routine. Don't be surprised if it becomes something you look forward to each day. But like everything else, it only works if you apply it. So make sure you use these tips and share them with your friends!
And if there's anything you need help with, be sure to leave your questions in the comments section below. I'm here to help!
*Image via Thinkstock
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