Shape Up Or Ship Out

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With high-intensity workouts such as crossfit, people everywhere are competing to see how much weight they can lift and how far they can push their bodies. However, although they are seeing results, your body can only keep up with that sort of lifestyle for a limited time. If you’re interested in making healthy life changes that will give you physical results and that will last, try these ways to stay motivated.

It’s About Being Healthy

At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what number you see on the scale, it’s how you look and feel. A woman who weighs 105 pounds could be way less healthy than a woman who weighs 150 pounds, so avoid putting too much of an emphasis on the scale and focus more on what you’re putting into your body. Things like soda, fast food, and baked goods definitely aren’t going to do your body any good, but indulging in one of these things every so often isn’t going to kill you. Just remember that if you eat foods high in protein, rich in nutrients, and low in fat 90% of the time, you’re safe to indulge 10% of the time.

Compose a Workout Plan

If you’re a parent, work a full-time job, and are trying to lose weight, create a workout plan that fits into your lifestyle. For example, if attending 5 classes a week or waking up at 6 in the morning just aren’t realistic goals to set, then don’t set them at all. Instead, take a look at your schedule and see what’s feasible. For instance, instead of watching a TV show with your family after dinner every night, encourage everyone to go outside together for an hour bike ride. These simple changes can give you big results that can last a lifetime.

Set Realistic Expectations

If you want to lose 20 pounds in one week, it isn’t going to happen. And things like juice cleanses and 500 calorie diets, aren’t sustainable. The second you start depriving your body of nutrition and needed calories, the worse your metabolism is going to get. And the second you stop your fad diet or cleanse, the weight will quickly come back on.  However, by setting realistic weight loss expectations, you can not only achieve your goals but you can maintain your ideal weight. Although you might want instant results, the ones that you work harder for are the ones that are going to pay off in the end.

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