Three Keys to a Productive Fitness Journey

Exercise can do a lot of good for your physical health. It can improve your heart’s health, and it can strengthen you so that you don’t injure yourself easily, among other things. In addition to these benefits, there is a strong connection between getting good exercise and reaping the benefits of good mental and emotional health.

Each year, many Americans commit themselves to becoming more fit and taking better care of their health. The bad news is that only a small percentage of those who decide to take charge of their physical health stick to it and continue on their fitness journey over the long term. There are lots of reasons why resolutions for greater fitness don’t quite stick, and there are some ways to overcome this and become consistent about your fitness.

Understanding How Fitness Goals Work

It’s possible to start your fitness journey with great vim and vigor, but then find yourself losing steam after a few weeks. Sometimes this happens because the goals you set are unrealistic, and you get discouraged. When you start to feel that the task you’ve set yourself is way bigger than you can reasonably accomplish, it can sap motivation.

At other times, one can set a goal that may be appealing, but that in the end doesn’t tie into any deeply held personal value. Some things truly matter to us, and we are willing to fight for those things. An example of this when it comes to fitness is when you think that it would be good to have a well-defined and toned body. If that’s not something you truly believe in, it’ll be hard to follow through if after six weeks you can’t see any change.

All of this leads to the point that as you set your fitness goals, they need to be goals that are meaningful to you. This gives you a reason to fight for them when things get difficult. It also means that as you set your goals, you need to consider carefully whether those goals are attainable. Attainable goals help to keep you motivated as you reach certain milestones, and that keeps you going.

The Three Things Needed for Your Fitness Journey

As you go about your fitness journey, there are at least three things that you need: motivation, dedication, and discipline. Your journey toward better physical health can be thought of like a three-legged stool; you need all three to keep you going when things get hard, which they inevitably will as time goes on.

Motivation

The first thing, then, is the motivation for getting fitter. Motivation is the ‘why’ behind your actions. Have you ever needed to perform a difficult task, but you simply didn’t understand why it needed doing? What will often happen in those cases is you’ll do the work at first, but as it starts to feel harder, you may begin to grumble. Those grumbles can easily turn to vocal protests, and eventually lead to quitting.

Knowing why you are doing something gives you a clarity of purpose, and that can be a powerful way to keep going. When it comes to fitness, it’s important to know the many reasons why it matters, but equally important is why it matters to you. There are several generic reasons why exercising regularly is good for you, including the fact that people who exercise regularly have better mental and emotional well-being.

Regular exercise works well to boost your mood and elevate your alertness and ability to concentrate, all the while improving your cardiovascular and overall physical health. However, more personal reasons for exercising regularly might be to be able to play with your kids or grandkids, to avoid serious injury, to be productive for longer, lower stress, and so on. These deeply personal reasons to exercise can help keep you going.

Dedication

The second thing needed for your fitness is dedication to your journey. Being dedicated to something means being committed to it. But dedication goes beyond merely being committed to something because it means orienting your life in some way around that thing. This means that dedication is not just about gritting your teeth and doing something because you said you would do it.

Instead, it may be helpful to think of dedication as loving something and being passionate about it. It is about finding meaning and purpose in what you’re doing and pursuing it with enthusiasm and deep passion. You like what you’re doing, and you pursue it with excellence because it is meaningful to you.

When it comes to pursuing fitness and exercising for the physical and mental health benefits, among other things, dedication means taking the time and effort necessary to accomplish your goal because you see meaning in the goal, and you see it as worthwhile chasing after. It’s easier to do something if you love it, and it is always best to do something with excellence if you’re going to do it.

Dedication will lead you to carve out time in your day to get your exercise in, and it will help you to show up and do the best that you can with the time you’ve got.

Discipline

The third bit that’s helpful for your fitness journey is discipline. Discipline is about the rubber hitting the road, creating a plan, and then taking the necessary steps to act and follow through on that plan. Being disciplined pushes you to keep doing what you know you ought to keep doing, even when you’re not enjoying it.

If we’re honest with ourselves, we don’t always enjoy the exertion, the sweat, or the time lost to exercise. When you’re under deadline pressure, or you’ve had an exhausting day or night, you might not feel like exercising. Discipline recognizes the higher purpose behind your actions, and it keeps you doing the work and doing it well when you least feel like it.

You and I need discipline to keep us going when we’ve lost the happy feelings associated with exercise. Of course, you should heed the cues your body gives you, and you should be cautious of injuring yourself or over-exercising, but there are just times when we need to shake ourselves and get the work done for the simple fact that it’s good for us. Discipline will get you up when it feels easier to just chill on the couch.

Getting Your Fitness Journey Going

As you get your fitness journey started, there are a few practical steps that might be helpful for you to consider. Sometimes, taking a slow start to set the right foundations will serve you in the long run. There’s no use exploding out of the blocks, only to fizzle out quickly and spectacularly a little down the way.

As you get started, go slowly, and ask yourself crucial questions such as “What is my goal?” Why does this goal matter to you? It matters that you find your purpose and the motivation that will keep you going when things get hard.

Another important part of your journey to remember is that things will get hard. Don’t deceive yourself and think you’ll be as excited on day sixty-two as you were on day one. If you have that mindset, you’ll likely get disillusioned and frustrated. As such, take the time to identify and understand any possible challenges along your path, such as injury, time constraints, difficulty getting out of bed to work out, and so on.

The next part of your journey is to start creating new habits. Get started, even if it’s a small step like planning your meals, going to bed early, or setting an alarm to wake up at a consistent time. Big and audacious goals are great, but small and consistent steps are more achievable and will get you the gains you need.

Lastly, keep track of your progress, and switch up if you need to. There are many fitness apps and gadgets that can help you track your progress and keep you accountable to accomplish your goals. The beauty of your fitness journey is that if certain things aren’t working for you, you can switch it up and reset. You should honor your commitment to yourself and the plan you made, but you also aren’t beholden to it.

There are many benefits of exercise for your physical, mental, and emotional health. If you want to begin moving toward a healthier life, you can talk to someone like a Christian life coach who can help you set goals and keep you accountable for what you desire to accomplish.