One Size Doesn't Fit All: How to Find the Best Health and Fitness Routine for You

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Most of us know what it's like to be on a health and fitness roller coaster. It is very common to get excited about the latest workout or diet trend. We jump in with both feet and start our new fitness routine and diet overhaul. Everything is going great for the first week and then.....the novelty of a new lifestyle starts to wear off. We start going back to our old, familiar habits. The good news is IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!

Diets and training programs aren't a bad thing but how they are marketed to us a problem. We are promised amazing, life changing results. If you do such-and-such for just 20 minutes per day you will lose weight, gain muscle and become a superhero version of yourself! The reality is lifestyle change requires HARD WORK...and a lot of it over a long period of time! It means committing beyond just a couple of weeks and could involve food tracking and early morning workouts. It requires you to make yourself a PRIORITY.

"The best diet and the best workout program are the ones you can stick with."

To become healthier as individuals we need to try different things, listen to our bodies and find positive lifestyle habits that we can stick with for the long haul. So how do you figure out which diet and/or workout routine will truly help us feel healthy and happy for the long haul? Start by asking yourself these questions:

Do I enjoy it? You must enjoy the habit enough so you are able to push past the resistance your mind will give you after the novelty of it wears off. The opposite question to ask is, "Do I dread it?" If so, move on to something else.

Is it sustainable? We all have different schedules. Even if you love what you are doing, the time commitment has to be sustainable, or else you'll burn out. Start with a time commitment that's without-a-doubt manageable. You can always add on additional time later.

Is there a community of like-minded people to support me? You will benefit from being around who share similar beliefs and values. Support can be in person but also through online support forums.

Is it working? Check your progress after two months or so by retesting a workout you did at the very beginning of your program: Can you complete it faster? Are you lifting heavier weights? Does the same workout feel easier than when you started? You can also measure physical markers like body measurements and weight or cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.

By understanding
that finding the right health and fitness program will involve trial and error and that whatever you settle on will take some hard work, you'll bring yourself one step closer to the lifestyle that helps you be the best version of you.

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