Nathaniel Fried
Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, improve fitness, or simply feel better, starting a diet and weight loss plan can seem a daunting process. It seems everywhere you go you are confronted by incredible results, people who transformed their bodies overnight, and aspirations which aren’t achievable for many of us.
With so many diet options and fitness advice, it can be hard to know where to begin. To help, we have compiled our top tips to help you start your first plan and take your fitness to the next level, creating a sustainable and long-lasting lifestyle change which can benefit you for years to come.
What Do You Want To Achieve?
To start your plan, it is essential to know what you are looking to achieve. There are different options available depending on your target. Are you training for a marathon, looking to gain strength, or lose weight? Look at your ideal end result and work backward. There is no point in cranking up the strength training if you are looking to improve flexibility, and a calorie-dense bodybuilding diet is not ideal for someone looking to lose weight. Everyone is different, so make sure you are clear about what you want to achieve.
Get Checked Out If Necessary
Before making any significant changes to your diet or exercise routine, it is always worth starting with a check-up from a medical professional. This step is especially important if you are pregnant or have ongoing health conditions. You may have to adjust your expectations slightly to stay safe. Getting an overall check, including blood-work, can also give you an up-to-date report of your overall health, and this information is useful in moving forward.
If you are looking to make major dietary changes, it is always worth seeking the help of a qualified nutritionist or similar professional to help your body stay healthy and active.
Create Small Targets
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you won’t wake up tomorrow transformed merely because you have started the journey! Weight loss can be a particularly frustrating journey, as progress can seem rapid in the start, before tailoring off to a more sustainable amount. This can seem frustrating if you are looking for fast results, but perseverance is the key. Set yourself small, manageable goals which you can celebrate regularly. This will keep you motivated and ready to look to the next stage of training. Additionally, you can gain inspiration by reading weight loss journeys from persons just like you. We do recommed reading some on DailyAchiever.
Think big!
When remaining motivated, it can help to have a broad, overall goal or achievement to work towards. This could be running a half marathon, taking part in a triathlon, or wearing that ideal dress to a glitzy event. Have a physical reminder of this such as a photograph or tickets, and use this to help boost you through the dark days. Reminding yourself why are heading to the gym at six-thirty in the morning can be a useful reason to go, and you have a sense of achievement when you finally reach that goal.
