Finding the motivation to hop on a program and sticking to it with consistency is an excellent way to begin our respective fitness journeys.
However, this must be complemented by a total lifestyle approach to fitness. Meaning, aside from hitting the gym, it is important for us to let go of those old bad habits that have weighed as down and made an adverse impact on our health.
Here are five things we should let go of in the new year in preparation for being in the best shape of our lives
Smoking
The perils of this vice are well-known. From increasing the risk of various types of cancer to lowering immune-system function. There is no shortage of information on why smoking is bad for us. Simply put, when we smoke we inhale poison—and with secondhand smoke, place others at risk. It’s time to ditch that toxic stick and quit cold turkey in 2019.
Binge drinking
For starters, having a bad hangover curtails us from hitting the gym or exercising the next day. A drink or two, why not? But getting drunk senseless on a regular basis may cause liver damage, lung infections, fatigue and malnutrition, to name a few. Alcohol prevents our bodies from absorbing nutrients from food. These are nutrients that fuel our workout and support muscle growth.
Spending too much time on your smart phone
Most of us is guilty of this. We claim we lack time to exercise but log heavy hours intently focused on our gadgets. While smart phones have certainly proven their usefulness in our daily lives, these gadgets steal precious hours as we endlessly scroll the news feeds on the various social- media accounts of friends, watching cat videos on YouTube and whatnot. Why not slash our browsing time and carve out productive moments that can be spent on exercise? Instead of only getting our fingers busy, let’s set our bodies in motion by sweating buckets working out.
Harboring negative thoughts
Pressure from work, family, friends and other obligations may have us dwelling on negative thoughts. Fear of failure, bearing a grudge, dwelling on past hurts and the like have no place in a fit mind.In order to effectively work on transforming our bodies, we have to start with a clear mind. Negative thoughts are destructive and do not benefit us in any way. The good news is, we have absolute control of our thoughts. While there are situations and events we cannot control, we have full dominion of how and what we think. Keep a positive mindset at all times. This is an essential part of being fit and healthy.
Making excuses
There will always be a reason to skip a workout. Too tired, No time, you can just do it tomorrow, the couch is more comfortable, etc. Whatever it is, do not listen to any of them. Just jump into it. There’s that voice that’s telling you to cancel or postpone a planned workout. Ignore it and hear that even louder voice that commands you to get on your feet and focus on your fitness goals. Shut out any and all excuses and, instead, envision yourself in your most ideal and perfect shape. That should get you going.
Wave goodbye to these bad habits and say hello to a healthier, fitter you in 2019.
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