Every Woman’s Guide to an Ideal Fitness Journey
By Bunmi Alaga
A lot of us today are more conscious about living a healthy and wholesome life but don’t know how to go about it. This lack of information drains motivation and puts us under pressure, depending on who we announce our goals to e.g. our partners, friends, family members, and so on. Most times however, we are our biggest critics.
There’s no doubt that it’s every woman’s desire to be healthy, and for some losing weight begins this process. A lot of women also wish their weight loss goals could be achieved at the snap a finger, with no effort. Sadly, this isn’t the case. The truth is most people dream of becoming more pro-active which could mean, waking up every morning to go for a run, or preparing healthier and leaner meals, or cutting down on junk food but they never get around to actually doing it.
However, it’s never too late to start. To help you along, I’ve come up with some general tips to guide you as you embark on your fitness journey this year:
1.Define your fitness goals and be specific about it:
Thinking long term is always the way to go, which is why your fitness
goals should be specific, clearly defined and realistic. Clarity helps
you understand and prepare mentally for the task at hand, it also
helps you track your progress, and ensure you achieve your desired
result. It is important to set the specific number of kilos you want to
lose then set a realistic timeline for this to be achieved, for instance, deciding
to lose 10 kilos in a 12week period. This goal is realistic and achievable. Setting unrealistic goals only sets you up for failure.
2.Get a good and accountable workout buddy:
Getting a workout and accountability partner can be a huge asset. Motivation is easier to find when you have a workout buddy to motivate you, and vice versa. An African proverb says: “If you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together”. In the end, it’s not about how fast but how well. The chances that you finish strong are higher if you have a partner committed to the same course.
3.Eat clean and cut down on fast food and soda:
This simply means eating as close to nature as possible, that is, eating more whole foods, fresh fruits and vegetables. The more unprocessed foods you eat, the better. If you find yourself buying items like chips, cookies, soda, pasta, desserts or other processed or packaged foods, then a change of habit is required. If you don’t buy these guilt treats and store at home, you are less likely to consume them. Also, the practice of healthy swaps is strongly advised and will be very helpful. For instance; smoothies are a great replacement for soda or cocktails, Ofada rice is a better option than polished white rice.
See Bunmi’s remaining tips in next week’s fitness column.
Culled from TW January 2017 edition.
