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As the new year approaches, one of the most popular resolutions among all of us tends to be ‘I am going to exercise regularly and lose weight’. Which is why if you go to a gym on the 1st of January, you’ll have to wait in line to use any equipment. However, by January 31st, there will be more trainers than trainees in the same gym. To help you avoid such a situation, and to help you achieve your weight loss goal, this week’s stop of New Year, New You will tell you about my 9 mantras to exercise regularly and lose weight.

Start small and stay consistent: Start small and start somewhere. That’s my first mantra for you. Don’t procrastinate. Start with as little as 15 minutes every day and gradually build to 60 minutes per day. Breaking your major goal into mini-goals is another useful tip. This does not make you weak, it helps you become stronger. 15 minutes of physical activity will make a big difference in the way you feel throughout the day. It will uplift your mood, get rid of irritability and improve discipline.
Don’t make excuses: I will sleep today, will workout from tomorrow. The tomorrow never comes. I have a meeting/in-laws at home/guests coming over. Of course the first casualty from my priority list, is the workout. Stop doing that. I remember a friend of mine who came to workout for half an hour on the day of her father in-law’s surgery. Surprised, I asked how come you are here instead of being in the hospital. Her answer left me with awe, and my respect for her went up. She said Aparna, I’m unproductive at the hospital, half an hour of workout with you will energise me. It’ll keep me happy and guilt free, letting me give my 100% for the rest of the day.
Find a workout partner: Workout is fun with friends. Find a partner who is self-motivated and more disciplined than you. I have witnessed that the people who work out in groups or with partners, tend to be more disciplined towards their workout instead of people who workout alone.
Have a holistic approach: When it comes to choosing an exercise, approach holistically. Have a balance of cardio, strength training, flexibility, core strengthening and relaxation. This is the most important mantra which will ascertain your success in long run. My choice of workout is yoga and walking, as this gives me a sense of wholesomeness.
Fix a time and stick with it: Fixing time is important and this will bring discipline into your life. The benefits of this punctuality and discipline will be transferred to every aspect of your life. This will also help you get rid of the ‘I don’t get any time to workout’ problem and before long, regular exercise will become an integral part of your routine.
Form healthy eating habits: While working out is very important for weight-loss, it only contributes to about 20-25% of your weight-loss journey. Eating healthy contributes to the rest. If you don’t have your eating discipline in place then your workout routine will not show optimum result. If you have been following New Year, New You from the start, you’ll already be familiar with the ways to form healthy eating habits. If you are new here, check out my healthy eating mantras.
Stay active throughout the day: Sweating profusely for 30 minutes in the day is great. But if you just sit at one place all day after that, you will be undoing all the good work. So the next mantra is staying active throughout the day, which will compliment your workout routine, healthy diet and give you the best results. Get up from your seat every hour, have a glass of water, stretch your body and relax your eyes.
Stay hydrated: Whether you just walk for 15 minutes or do 45 minutes of intense HIIT, it’s crucial to stay hydrated. Drink water before, during, and after exercise. Water helps in regulating body temperature and lubricating joints. It transports vital nutrients to provide energy and keep you healthy. If you’re not adequately hydrated, you may experience fatigue, muscle cramps, or dizziness.
Sleep well: Last and the most important mantra is getting a good night’s sleep. 7-8 hours of sleep at night helps your body recover from the wear and tear of everyday activities. Good sleep also promotes muscle growth, rebuild and repair. Try to eat at least 2 hours before bedtime. Ensure that your sleeping and waking up times are fixed every day.

So, which all mantras are you going to adopt in 2018? Let me know in the comments below.

Good luck, good health, season’s greetings and a very happy new year to you all!

Until 2018,

Aparna

Tags » LiveFit

My 9 Exercise Mantras for Weight Loss