I don’t think it is a secret that I struggled to stay on track with my fitness this year. I’m slowly trying to get myself back into the groove at my local GoodLife Fitness, but it’s still a work in progress. I’m sure I can come up with a million and one excuses as to why I fell off the wagon, but none of them would be the true cause.
The truth is I started to flounder as soon as I hit my short term fitness goals last year. I got complacent. I lost sight of the big picture and what I was working towards. While things like fitness equipment and cute workout clothing can provide short-term motivation, the desire to maintain your fitness long-term has to come from within. So today I wanted to share a few non-materialistic things that you need to stay fit and healthy.
1. The right attitude
If you want to get and stay healthy and fit, you need the proper mindset. Yes, it’s possible to get into shape while hating every moment of the processes. But long-term maintenance can be tough if you don’t actually enjoy working out and eating well. Staying fit takes a lot of hard work and dedication. And if you’re not in it for the right reasons, you’ll start avoiding the things you don’t enjoy and all your work will be for nothing.
2. Goals
I’ve talked about having fitness goals at length before so I don’t want to get too detailed here. But I do want to say that I’ve found it easiest to stay on track with my fitness when I’m working towards a goal. It’s also important to remember to reevaluate your fitness goals frequently so you aren’t left without a purpose once you accomplish them.
3. Knowledge (or a desire to learn)
You can’t expect to get and stay fit if you know nothing about fitness and proper nutrition. I’m not saying that you need PhDs in fitness and nutrition, but you have to know enough to help you reach your goals. And if you don’t have the required knowledge, you either need to want to learn at least the basics or hire a professional to help you with the process. Otherwise, you’ll waste a lot of time doing things that probably won’t work for you.
4. Time
You need time to get fit. Whether you decide to make time for fitness or not is up to you. But when it comes down to it, you aren’t going to magically get fit without a lot of hard work and time. You need to decide whether or not fitness is a top priority for you and then plan accordingly. If it’s not, that’s totally fine, but then you need to adjust your goals and expectations. This was my number one issue. I expected to put in minimal time at the gym but still reap the same rewards I was before. But it just doesn’t work that way.
What about you?
- Do you agree that mentality is the most important part of staying fit?
- What are your must-haves for staying fit and healthy?
Share in the comments below!
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This post was written as part of the GoodLife Fitness Blogger Ambassador Program; however all opinions expressed are my own.
Absolutely mentality is a huge part of staying fit! I think for me, the most important is to make it a priority and to make the time to workout and take care of myself.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted…15 Must-Try Spiralizer Recipes
…and KNOW YOUR WHY otherwise the mojo cannot be maintained.
CARLA recently posted…Double Digits and 31 Days of Kindness.
Soooo true! I definitely lost sight of my why at the beginning of this year which is a huge part of the struggle.
The biggest battle is in your brain, for sure! The right attitude is everything.
This is so great! I really think that if you can master the intangible things needed to stay fit then you can achieve the tangible ones! Thanks for the info!
Cailee recently posted…Hello Healthy Pancakes!
The right mentality is totally necessary to stay fit! I kind of fell of the exercise wagon too this semester, and I know it’s because I had given up mentally. Once you do that, it’s hard to rebound. If your head’s not in it, it doesn’t matter how strong or fit you are, you won’t be able to do it. You can/can’t do anything you tell yourself that you can/can’t do. Does that make sense? Lol. Definitely need to apply some of these things to next year so I keep a consistent routine!
Emilie @ Emilie Eats recently posted…Happy Thanksgiving!
When fitness became less of “check the box on my to do list” and more of a just part of my normal routine, I really started to miss it when I would take a day off! Even something as simple as a short run.
Dani @ Dani California Cooks recently posted…Chocolate Mint Chip Truffles (vegan, paleo)
HAPPINESS! People always ask me why and how I am always sooo happy – and I dedicate it to … BEING FIT AND ACTIVE!!