Why You’re Struggling to Reach Peak Fitness

It’s easy to get a little carried away when we decide that we’re going to get into shape. We invest in new workout clothes, join a gym, and vow to cut out the unhealthy foods and eat better. But this enthusiasm only takes us so far; before we know it, we might be wondering why we made such a big fuss about getting fit and healthy when we’re clearly not making any progress. It’s usually at this point that we revert back to our old lifestyle, forgetting all about the fitness stuff. But keep going! You may just be making one error. Below, we take a look at a few of the common mistakes that people make when they’re trying to get healthy.

There Is No Target

You couldn’t hope to get to where you want to be if you had no idea what that was. Imagine just walking aimlessly, and hoping to get to the top of the mountain! Wouldn’t be possible. The same, more or less, applies to your fitness. It’s best to have an idea of what you’re trying to achieve, so at least you have something to measure your improvement by. It could be that you want to lose a few inches from your waist, or add some muscle. It doesn’t matter what it is, so long as you have an idea!

Ineffective Workouts

We tend to think that anything that has us working up a sweat will be good for us, yet while that may be broadly true, it’s also true that some workouts are better than others. If you’re not noticing as much improvement as you’d like, then it might be that you’re wasting your time and energy on exercises that aren’t as effective as others. So be sure to look up the best exercises. High intensity interval training, for example, has long been promoted by fitness enthusiasts because of the number of calories that it burns. If you’re relying on gym strength machines for your fitness, then be aware that some aren’t as effective as you might think. 

Unhealthy Habits

Spending three hours in the gym each week is, for sure, a good start on your road towards being fit and healthy. But it really is just a start. You can’t expect to advance too much if you’re spending the rest of the week sitting on the couch, eating unhealthy food, and drinking alcohol. It’s best to think of your quest to get fit as something that’ll touch your entire lifestyle. Try to fit in healthy habits (such as walking/cycling instead of driving) into your life, and you’ll notice improvements more quickly.

Long Breaks

Some people get into the habit of visiting the gym every couple of days, but then something happens that keeps them away from the gym (such as Christmas or a holiday), and they quickly end up back at square one. Try to keep your exercise levels high, no matter what time of year it is. You can exercise when abroad, for example.