Anokhi Fashion Lifestyle Entertaiment

I promise to...

“to eat better starting in the New Year.”

“I will start going to the gym on January 1st.”

“to lose 10 pounds by March.”

“I won’t eat junk food starting Monday.”

Do these statements sounds familiar to you? If so, trust me; you are not alone. Almost a quarter of all people make New Year’s resolutions on eating better and working out but only one in 20 keep it up for more than 30 days. So what can you do to feel better, look better and actually achieve your fitness goals? Here are some hidden secrets about working out that will change your perception on fitness!

Secret #1: Make it a habit

The difference between a fit person and someone who is trying to get fit is that the fit person works out because they want to and not because they have to. Make it a part of your life and your life will thank you for it!

Everyone goes through that initial phase of trying to make working out a HABIT. Even the person you envy most at the gym once had to make that firm decision of dedicating time toward fitness and making a habit of carrying an active lifestyle. That’s why they look the way they do.

Secret #2: Stick with the plan

The main reason why people and businesses become successful is because they keep working hard till they succeed. The same rule applies when it comes to fitness. You will succeed in your fitness goals if you consistently follow a well-balanced plan for at least eight weeks.

You must be wondering why eight weeks? The reason for that is it takes four weeks for your body to get used to the idea of working out; it then takes two more weeks for you to start feeling the difference and another two weeks for you to start noticing the change and others to start complimenting you on how different and better you look.

Secret #3: It’s not as hard as you think it is

When you see someone with a fit body you might ask, “How many hours does she spend in the gym each day? Does she even have a life?” I know I used to think that all the time until I became that person and realized it’s not true. So how can one do that? The answer is DISCIPLINE – discipline in your workouts, discipline in your eating and discipline in your everyday choices...that’s it!

Secret #4: A fit body comes from a fit mind

The mind is known to be the strongest muscle in the body and its true because without thinking fit you cannot get fit. For a fit mind, the following three items should be noted:

1. Get plenty of sleep (no less than seven hours and no more than eight hours a day).
2. Drink lots of water.
3. Do yoga and meditation.
As they say, one good decision leads to another so start with something that comes naturally to you. It could be drinking more water or sleeping enough or even meditation; make a choice and stick with it for at least eight weeks.

Secret #5: Workout regularly but mix it up!

To achieve a fit body, do not focus on doing just one thing. You should combine free weights, cardio, yoga, meditation and stretching for a balanced workout and plan it in a way that it becomes a part of your lifestyle.

As I mentioned above it’s not as hard as you think; all this can be easily achieved and incorporated into a 30- to 45-minute session. The key is to be dedicated and make sure to consistently workout four to five times a week.

Checklist:

1. Make it a habit to follow an active lifestyle.

2. Make sure you follow a well-balanced workout plan that includes weight training, cardio, yoga and meditation and follow it with dedication.

3. Make things easy for yourself. Think of working out as something natural and not a big deal. Have fun with it and don’t think of it as something that requires a lot from you.

4. Train your mind first and then go for your body! Start with one change and progressively add more changes to the list.

5. Plan your meals, workout days and workouts ahead of time. It will help you stay on track and make your routine much easier to follow.

Achal Dua is a certified personal trainer and CEO of Bollywood Abs Inc. in the Washington, DC, metro area. He specializes in rapid weight loss, endurance and athletic training. An avid blogger, Achal has been featured in Vogue magazine and has regularly appeared on Zee TV, Jus Punjabi and Humdesi Radio. www.bollywoodabs.com

BY ACHAL DUA / PUBLISHED IN THE 9TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE / JANUARY 2012