Forty is one of those ages that appear so far into the future when we’re younger, but when that number creeps up on us we realise one thing: this is only just the beginning. Whether you subscribe to mentalities like 40 is the new 30, you are only as old as you feel or anything else that we tell ourselves when we hit milestone ages, the real thing to stay focused on is simple… If you want to do it, then you can!
As much as we want to deny it, there does come a time when our body starts responding a little differently than it did when we were in our early twenties. With that, there tends to be a little shift in our mentality towards what being fit and healthy means. No matter what your goals are when it comes to your health, it is never too late to start achieving them.
Here are 5 tips you can apply, regardless of your health and fitness goals.
1. Be SMART with your goals
S: Specific
M: Measurable
A: Attainable
R: Relevant
T: Time-bound
First up, make a specific goal, for example, “I want to lose 10kgs”. How do you measure this goal? For weight loss, it would be using scales. Ensure that this goal is attainable, for instance - do you have 10kgs to lose? If you do, great! If you don’t then don’t set yourself up for failure, perhaps losing 5 centimetres off your waist would be easier to achieve.
2. Plan and write it down!
As cliché as it sounds, if you do not plan to succeed, then you are planning to fail. While this saying gets thrown around all the time, it does hold a lot of truth. It is all well and good to have goals but if you do not do anything to work towards them then chances are, they are not going to happen.
So how do you plan?
This goes back to the SMART principles. Once you have nailed down a specific goal you have to break down just how you are going to achieve it. If it is weight loss, what can you change about your lifestyle? Is your diet fantastic but you do little to no exercise? Or are you constantly on your feet but tend to get slack with your diet? Either way, figure out what you need to do to achieve your goals and plan.
If you struggle to eat nutritiously, planning a meal prep day may help, why not try using our random meal generator for ideas? Be sure to write a grocery list before you head out so that you don’t overbuy food or get side-tracked with unhealthy options and snacks. If you really need extra assistance look at jumping on a subscription meal plan, there are many healthy and affordable options out there, some even for the whole family. Once you have a plan, put it down and put it into action!
3. Put Together a Team
Teamwork makes the dream work! Going it alone is never easy, especially if you live in a household full of people. If you have a fitness goal you want to achieve, make including others in your journey part of your plan. Whether it is getting out and going for a walk as a family or getting your partner to help you with the cooking - enlisting the support of others will do wonders for your journey.
Expanding your circle may also be a great way to not just get fit and smash your goals, but to have fun along the way. Join our HLD Tribe to connect with other like-minded people and take part in our upcoming group fitness challenges.
Joining a class, hiring a PT or getting your girlfriends involved will make working towards your goals so much easier.
4. Consistency is key
It is never about being perfect every single day, but making sure you give it your best shot will make all the difference. Consistency is not just one of the most important parts of achieving your health and fitness goals but ensuring that you maintain all the hard work you have put in.
After a while, your motivation may start to wane, so keeping the momentum and chipping away daily leads to a much more sustainable lifestyle. How many times in the past have you gone ridiculously hard at the start only to burn out and end up further back from when you started?
Little by little, step by step is the key. Think about this, you make one little change every week. More water, more steps, more vegetables… That’s 52 changes a year!
What is written will happen. It may seem we are hedging our tips on the back of old sayings, but they have stuck around for a reason. They work.
5. Write it Down
Write down your goals and pin them up somewhere.
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Write down your shopping lists and meal plans.
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Write down your programs.
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Plan your days/weeks/months out in advance.
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Regard the gym as an appointment, not wishful thinking.
If you are struggling to stay focused, write it down! (Hint: If you need some help keeping those plans together, make sure you head to our shop to check out our magnetic meal planners, shopping lists plus weekly and monthly planners).
What’s your motivation?
Are you getting in shape to keep up with your kids? Training to run a marathon or triathlon? Improving your health and fitness to prevent illnesses or conditions that may start to develop down the track? Simply just wanting to feel comfortable or strong?
Whatever your goal when embarking on a new health journey, these tips are tried and tested methods that will help you not only hit that goal, but give you the tools to take them with you for the rest of your life.
To access our members only workout plans, videos and recipe database click here to find out more about joining the HLD Tribe.
Got any more tips for staying healthy and active? We’d love to hear from you if so, comment below or shoot us an email hello@hopelanedesigns.com.au
