Published on: 03 May 2018
Last Updated on: 25 July 2024
When it comes to fitness, you might be your own worst enemy. If it feels like you’re doing everything right, but still not getting the results you want, why are you still sticking to the same routine? There are many ways you might be getting in your own way and getting to the bottom of it starts with honesty. Are you really being honest with yourself when it comes to diet and exercise? Are you diligently tracking these figures—or are you over-obsessing? Too much in either direction can be dangerous.
Here are five ways you might be inhibiting your own fitness and what to do about it:
Not counting every bite if you’re looking to reduce fat. It’s not as simple as calories in, calories out, but sometimes it is. If you’re sticking to a certain caloric intake every day, make sure you count every single bite—and beverage. Alcohol is packed with calories and lowers our inhibitions, which is all part of alcohol’s lethality when it comes to diet goals. Count those calories, but keep in mind that there is an emerging eating disorder in which people “save” calories for alcoholic beverages. It’s been dubbed “drunkorexia”, and can lead to even more dangerous eating disorders.
Getting too obsessed with the scale. Unfortunately, the scale can lie. Like a watched pot, it’s not going to give you what you want if you’re checking it daily—or multiple times per day. Doing so is a slippery slope and can lead to dangerous habits. The scale can only tell you weight, which doesn’t account for muscle or water retention. If you really want some numbers to help guide you on your fitness journey, use a tape measure. Measure the biggest part of your upper arms, the largest part of your chest, the smallest part of your waist, widest part of your hips, and largest part of your thighs and calves. All of these areas, especially the belly, can also fluctuate throughout the day. However, it’s a much safer (and saner) number system than the scale.
You don’t push yourself at your workouts. Many people aren’t honest with themselves when it comes to their workouts. Could you be doing a harder level on the cross ramp? When the spin instructor tells you to empty the engine on a power interval, are you? If you’re working on muscle mass, do you really tap out between eight and twelve reps or could you do more (and increase the weight)? Working with a personal trainer can help you avoid cheats, as can working out in a group setting. It can be too easy to compromise when you always workout solo. Plus, group settings or a personal trainer can bring out your competitive spirit.
Not getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep has been linked to weight gain. Since most Americans are chronically fatigued (and overweight) there’s a clear correlation here. One of the best things you can do is get enough rest. This will depend on you and your body, but ideally, you’ll be able to wake up without an alarm. If that isn’t doable, see about squeezing in a power nap mid-day. It’s seemingly one of the easiest ways to keep your weight in check. It also helps you get the most out of your workouts. You can’t give your all when you’re exhausted.
Be realistic with rest days and cheat days. These days don’t mean you can go all-out on a binge. Some people find a cheat meal is safer. Others re-learn how to gauge their fullness. Cheat days can be helpful because they give your body what it’s craving, but it still needs to be in moderation. A rest day doesn’t need to be a complete rest, either. You can go on a walk or take a gentle yoga class. Again, honesty with yourself is key.
If you’re getting in your own way, you’re also the one who can stop it. Pinpoint your biggest struggles and see what you can do to put yourself first.
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Are you unsatisfied or bored of your everyday fitness routine? Worry no more as the following tips can help in keeping you focused, motivated and healthy.
Eat More Meals
Eating more meals and eating more food are entirely different things. Ensure that you break your meals into portions of reduced quantity and eat at regular intervals. In an ideal routine, you should consume a meal every 3 hours. This way, your blood sugar levels, and appetite can be kept in check. Moreover, you will not feel like binging on junk foods and snacks.
Read also: Meals That Matter: The Best Foods And The Ways They Make You Fit
Begin The Day With Lemon Water
We all want to start our day healthy. But, how do you ensure that? Pick up the habit of drinking a glass of water with some lemon drops in the morning. This can help in boosting your immune system and will keep your digestive system healthy. Also, lemon water is well known for its detoxifying and antifungal properties. It will do a perfect job in cleansing your system and will ensure that you are active and focused all day.
The “New Exercise” Rule
When I hit the gym, I often see people doing the same workouts day after day. Many of us fail to realize that our body has a great ability to adapt and exercises are no exception. When you do the same workouts over and over, it can adversely affect the effectiveness of your workouts. Also, doing the same exercises over and over again can contribute to injuries. Ensure that you devote some time during the weekends to look for more efficient and new workouts on the internet. Not only will it be a learning curve, but it can also take your overall fitness to the next level. Also, if your decline bench press muscles worked today, ensure that you work a different muscle group the next day.
Utilize The Internet
What makes you hate the most about the gym? The majority will point out to the fact that gym and health clubs membership are costly and often unaffordable. So, how do you curb these costs and still manage to get fit? By exercising at your comfort inside the home. You can consider setting up a home gym and also make use of internet resources like youtube. As a result, your trainer will be at your service 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.
Google for fitness tutorials and quit thinking about coughing up money for a fitness coach. Also, make use of subreddits such as r/fitness on Reddit.
Get Out Of The Gym
What is the most essential factor for growth? It is 'change.' If you keep on doing the same thing every day, then you might end up losing motivation, focus, and interest. Exercising daily at the gym is great. But, limiting yourself to the four walls of the gym can hurt your interest to exercise.
Read also: What Are Popular Mind And Body Exercises Available At A Gym?
It might be hard to get the benefits of incline bench press outside the gym, but the scenery, the sunshine, and the fresh air can more than compensate for the same. If you are not interested in taking a solo trip or hike, ask your buddies to tag along.
Change Your Commute
This is a very effective hack. How do you go to your school, college or office on a daily basis? Well, it is time to rethink it again, Choose to walk or bike for a portion of the whole of your commute. This way you will stay more active. Burn more calories and stay off public transport. If you are a person who chooses to use your car to work, then switching to a bike can help you reduce your carbon footprint as well.
Exercise To Fast Music
Studies point out to the fact that listening to songs which are fast-paced can make people exercise longer and harder. So, ensure that your phone is loaded up with songs which are heart thumping and fast-paced. This can increase the effectiveness of your workouts
Get A Workout Buddy
Are you a person who procrastinates anything and everything? Then, you should follow this hack no matter what. Working out with a friend will make you less likely to skip the gym and more likely to finish a workout. Ask a buddy with identical fitness levels to hit the gym with you and be wonderstruck at how far you can push yourself.
The tips listed above are sure to help in keeping you fit and healthy. Ensure that you reward yourself for achieving fitness goals. This can help a lot in increasing motivation.
Read also:
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5 Rowing Machine Workout Tips Every Fitness Person Should Know
If you want to build up the healthy digestive system in a natural way, here are the best herbs. Don’t go blindly to the medicines. It can harm your immune system. Don’t follow the diet that can lose the power of the body. Here are the natural herbs that can balance your body’s digestive system. It will promote weight loss and will help you in building the immune system too. All these herbs are easily available at home and you can easily lose your weight without investing single penny from your pocket.
If you want to get the knowledge about Indian herbs and species please refer to Indian Spices Online shop.
Green Tea
Nowadays Green tea is popular and in-demand to save your extra time of exercise. Green tea is the best antioxidant that promotes oxygen in the blood cells. It helps to fight acid reflux from the body. It regulates the digestive system. Green tea is the best remedy to remove the desire of hunger. This is the best herb used to lose weight even without exercise.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon tastes great when it is used in making desserts. Boil the water and mix the small amount of cinnamon powder into it and let it boil for some time. You can also use the cinnamon powder into an herbal tea. Take this warm cinnamon water twice a daily. This aromatic warm water fasts the metabolism. It is also helpful in promoting weight loss. It is a great antioxidant that helps to stabilize the blood sugar level. It decreases hunger and helps to reduce the chances of acidity.
Ginger
Ginger is a power booster helps in promoting the digestive system. It is known as the most popular body cleanser. It blocks forming the fat cells and regulates the blood circulation. It is mostly used in all types of cooking but the majority used in making herbal tea. This reduces appetite and fights cravings.
Cayenne Pepper:
Cayenne pepper is the staple herb to reduce the appetite. Mostly in vegetable soups and gravy based recipes crushed cayenne pepper is used. It helps in improving the digestion system and also used in building new tissues in the body. It strengthens metabolism and known as the best fat burning herb.
Garlic:
Garlic attacks on fat directly. It is used in every type of cooking. Garlic cloves in the soups help in fighting cancer. It has a great anti-clotting activity that helps in maintaining the cholesterol level of the body. Garlic cloves are helpful in improving blood circulation in the body. Doctors advise to use it in an everyday meal for improving for strengthening the metabolism and improving the digestive system.
Cumin:
In the fitness program, cumin seeds are the most common species. Fruits, salads, soups all are dressed with cumin seeds powder to digest the food. This is a staple herb used in making Jal jeera water. That enhances the metabolism also controls the appetite.
Black Pepper:
Black Pepper is a common herb used in almost all types of soups and salads. Its great taste allows the foodies to eat salad and soups. Same as cayenne pepper this is used in burning the extra acid from the body. It controls building fat cells in the body. Crushed black pepper is a great antioxidant that helps to dioxin the body. Black pepper powder has a great warming effect that reduces the risk of gastric problems and acidity.
Guar Gum
Guar Gum is preferred to use in a diabetic patient. Now it becomes the best agent for maintaining the sugar level of the body. Its powder is used to strengthen the metabolism of the body. It helps to manage the appetite; it gives the satisfaction of fullness. It helps in reducing the obesity problems.
Turmeric:
Turmeric is an outstanding herb for improving metabolism. 1 tbsp of turmeric powder with warm water used to maintain the body's immune system. It purifies the blood and also helps to improve digestion in the body. Thus it is helpful in burning the extra fat from the body. It also helps the body to fight against the extra cholesterol in the body.
Flax Seeds:
Flax seeds are a key herb for weight loss. Roasted or raw flax seeds are used as a mouth freshener for improving stomach metabolism. Flaxseeds contain omega 3 fatty acid which helps to fight against the extra cholesterol from the body. Thus it is used to avoid maintaining the PH level in the body.
Fennel Seeds:
Fennel seeds are the most common mouth freshener of India. But this is most probably used to aid in digestion. It regulates hunger and helps in cleansing the liver. Fennel seeds drink is the best appetizer. Fennel seeds are the best cooling agent for decreasing the acid reflux in the body.
Read Also: Need to know more about Turmeric Curcumin Supplements
Mustard:
Mustard seeds help in breaking extra fat cells from the body. Instead of taking other oils to use mustard oil for cooking. It helps in boosting metabolism. Mustard oil is low-calorie oil which helps to decrease the chance of bloating and retention in the body.
Cardamom
Cardamom sharp flavor is used to digest the desserts in the body. Cardamom powder in green tea helps in toning the body muscles. It relaxes the body and aids in improving stomach metabolism. Cardamom is the best mouth freshener that satisfies the hunger for some time.
Read also:
Top 7 Superfoods For Healthy Skin And Hair
5 Protein Enriched Food To Improve Mental Health
9 Magical Benefits Of A Vegetarian Diet
6 Imbalances In Body Hampering Weight Loss Efforts
Tips To Lose Weight Naturally
Sleep is critical to us, and it has a vital impact on our quality of lives. It is much more than just resting at night and feeling full of energy the next day. Getting enough shut-eye at night has a significant impact on our existence, and if we are deprived of sleep, we often can’t function properly. The lack of sleep can have an adverse effect on our health and well-being.Good Night’s Sleep can make you feel comfortable and agile.
The main mistake that many people make is that they often underestimate the importance of sleep. They simply choose to stay awake till late at night watching TV and surfing the web instead of focusing on getting enough shut-eye. Going to bed on time and getting a recommended number of hours of rest is more important than many people think. You shouldn’t sacrifice sleep to get other things done as your health can suffer sooner or later as a result.
However, many people have troubles falling asleep in the evening. Many factors contribute to this, and the primary factor is stress. It can be quite difficult to relax and drift off to dreamland at night if you are dealing with a lot of stress. In these situations, it would be the best idea to try meditation or to do some fun activities that will relax you in the evening. Another factor that contributes to sleep deprivation is improper sleeping surface.
Many people sleep on old and uncomfortable mattresses that lack support. If you want to get a night of quality rest, you should consider replacing your old mattress with a new one. Luckily, unbiased reviews sites such as realmattressreviews.com can help you find the right mattress and pillows for your bedroom. Comfortable and supportive sleeping surfaces will increase your chances of getting a good night’s sleep that you deserve. Some of the leading health advantages that you can expect to get from sleeping enough on a regular basis include:
Your Immune System Will Improve:
We all know that the key to fighting infections and diseases is the properly functioning immune system. When we get enough sleep at night, protein molecules that strengthen our immune system are produced. As a result, we are able to fight diseases and infections better. On the other hand, when we lack rest, we are more prone to getting sick as our bodies are not able to fight back. If you want to enjoy the improved functioning of your immune system you should focus on getting enough shut-eye at night.
Your Heart Will Become Healthier:
Cardiovascular problems are very widespread, and they affect people of all ages, especially seniors. These issues need to be taken seriously as they can have severe consequences. The major contributing factor to these problems is high blood pressure. When you don’t get enough rest at night, the production of stress hormones is affected, and as a result, blood pressure tends to rise because your heart needs to work harder. On the other hand, when you are well-rested, blood pressure levels are kept under control, and your chances of having cardiovascular issues are decreased.
You Will Be Able to Control Your Weight Better:
If you struggle losing extra pounds, you should focus on sleeping enough at night. Sleep is vital to achieving the desired weight loss goals. Not only it can help us keep our weight under control but it can also help lose weight at a faster pace. When we don’t get enough sleep, we are more likely to consume unhealthy foods, eat more than we should, and less likely to exercise. Of course, you already know that these things contribute to weight gain. On the other hand, when you sleep enough, you are more likely to eat healthily and engage in physical activity, which will help keep your weight under control.
Read Also:
Why Is Sleeping Well So Important For Job Performance?
Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Your Skin & Good Sleeping Habits
