The five stages of fitness
Published:Monday | May 20, 2019 | 12:11 AM
Summer is just around the corner, but it isn’t too late to acquire your ideal body for the sizzling season. All it takes is a little self-motivation to take a few steps forward to the direction of fitness. First, it is important to discover your level, and by that I don’t mean physical fitness but rather your mental ability.
Here are five ways to test your stage of fitness from thought to the finish line:
Stage one: Do I really need to?
This is the trickiest step of them all ... one might even call it the denial stage. But let’s face facts. The reality is you need to lose some weight. Let’s not sugar-coat anything, that’s what got you in this mess in the first place. The more you lounge in that couch of yours a is the more pounds you are likely to gain.
Think about how lighter and happier your life will get after shedding that excess baggage. Healthy food for thought.
Stage two: Maybe I should?
The thinking process then progresses from ‘I can’t do this’ to ‘maybe I could’. Factors hindering this particular feat includes your choice in workout regime and affordability. No stress needed here because a variety of fitness options are available and some at low to no cost to you. Think about it: you can make the online community your very best friend. Or you can opt to join a running club, a dance class, find your chi with a yoga session, jump into a spinning class, all of which may not put you out of pocket. The possibilities are endless, so forget all your inhibitions.
Stage three: On your marks, get set ...
Wait, before you run out of the starting blocks be sure not to pull a false start and get taken out of the race. For those who are not familiar with what a false start in the fitness world looks like, it’s almost as if your efforts in the physical arena have been exhausted by your betrayal in the health department. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
It’s time to consider meal plans, having your meals on time, making healthier snack choices, and let’s not leave out getting quality sleep for recovery purposes.
Stage four: Go time – let’s do this!
Now, this is the exciting round. The whistle has been blown and now you’re off. It’s time to set the pace and make consistency and persistency the goal of the day, month, year and for the rest of your life. Put all your worded planning into affirmative action to stay ahead of the game.
Stage 5: Keeping it running: a marathon, not a sprint.
You’re now in the finals but not yet at the finish line. Your fitness regime requires you taking on a new physical persona, day after day. Many resort to beast mode in order to maintain the healthy lifestyle, but there’s no need to turn into a monster, just challenge your mind and body every chance you get. Develop healthy habits, revisit your body goals as this will change over time. And have fun with it!
Whenever you’re in doubt, start back at stage one. *wink*