4 Common Mistakes When Starting Your Fitness Journey
Poor Diet and Expecting Results
It can be easy for people to fall into the trap of thinking that they need to lose a certain number of pounds or inches to feel good about themselves, but this is not true at all! The best thing you can do when starting your fitness journey is to generate a health change; only then will good results come.
The first step is to eliminate sugar and processed foods from your diet. These types of food are high in calories but low in nutrients and flavor; they will not fill you up or satisfy a craving the way fresh vegetables and protein do. In addition, eliminating this diet from your life can help reduce emotional eating problems because it will be easier to set and retain a healthy eating lifestyle.
Seeking External Validation
Striving for external validation is a common mistake many people make when they start their fitness journey. However, as you continue to participate in exercise and nutrition programs, you'll grow more confident with your body --- which will eventually lead to self-acceptance.
This can be difficult at first because there's an expectation that if you don't look a certain way, then you're not worthy. This is such an unhealthy message to send yourself, and so you must find self-love along the way.
It's important to remember that you are enough. Whether your fitness goal is losing weight, gaining muscle, or just improving health. Remember, there will be struggles along the way; however, it's not about who succeeds but rather who tries their best.
Hoping To Spot Reduce Fat
This mistake is a common one - you want to get started on a fitness journey because you are looking for that quick fix. But, in reality, there is no such thing as spot-reducing fat; it's impossible.
The only time you might see a difference in your body is if you lose overall body weight, but that's not going to happen overnight. Instead of focusing on how the scale or mirror looks, why don't you figure out what direction you want for your fitness journey and take it from there?
Preferably, start with a fitness assessment to gauge your current state, and go from there.
Comparing Your Progress to Others’
The thing with fitness is that you can't compare your progress to other people's because everyone has a different level of strength. Also, what might be hard work for one person could be as easy as a walk in the park for another.
Therefore, you have to measure yourself (and your goals) by how much improvement you make day-to-day, not by how you stack up against other people.
This doesn't mean you should just give up if your progress isn't as fast or impressive as someone else's. However, it does mean that it's important not to compare yourself with others and to measure progress in areas you need improvement.
It's not easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But it's worth the reward! If you want to start your fitness journey, make sure you know what type of commitment and length of time you require. However, it might take some time for you to adjust and train yourself to achieve your goals.
