I am guessing that most people would prefer to be fit, but the large majority of people these days tend to be unfit. Many people try to get fit but simply give up, and I feel this is because they go about it in completely the wrong way. It can be confusing, as there is so much conflicting information about the ideal way to get fit. It is never easy to create a new habit; it takes time and effort until it feels a natural part of ‘what you do’. So, what is it that separates the fit from the not-so-fit people? If you avoided the following seven things fit people never do, you would be highly likely to succeed.
1. They don’t skip their exercise sessions.
Fit people don’t skip their exercise sessions unless they are facing an absolute emergency. And when they simply can’t attend their session, they are quite calm about it as there is a genuine reason and it’s a rare occurrence. This has to be the most important thing fit people don’t do, as you have to exercise frequently enough to get fit (duh!). Realistically, you have to train at least three times a week to see significant results. If you think training once a week is enough to get fit, think again.
2. They don’t repeat the same exercise session every time.
Fit people don’t do the same exercise session week in and week out, as they realize they need to challenge their bodies. If you are lifting the same weight for six months, that is a sure sign you are not challenging yourself enough to improve your fitness. As they get used to one exercise, fit people change and adapt their workouts so they are moving on to more challenging exercise sessions. This keeps them motivated as they see significant improvements to their fitness level. If you are confused about the right exercises to do, it makes sense to employ a personal trainer to work with, this ensures you are not wasting time in the gym.
3. They don’t train with a frantic mindset.
Fit people don’t train with a frantic mindset because they are confident in how they are training, and know they will achieve their fitness goals. They train in a confident way and truly enjoy their exercise sessions. Some people start exercising but are very anxious that they are not going to achieve their goals. Of course, this is futile as this anxiety can stop them from achieving anything. These are the people who give up after a few days or weeks. Sometimes this anxiety comes from having goals that are unachievable. If you are not sure how to set realistic fitness goals, hire a personal trainer to work with you. They will help you to set goals and track your progress over time.
4. They don’t accept their excuses.
Everyone has excuses for their behavior, even fit people, but the difference is that fit people don’t accept their excuses. They take responsibility for their actions and work towards changing their behavior. Nobody leads a perfect life, and everyone could make improvements to their lifestyle. Fit people recognize their shortcomings and want to change them. Not-so-fit people don’t take responsibility for these shortcomings and can make light of them; they are not open to change.
5. They don’t have poor sleeping habits.
Fit people don’t have poor sleeping patterns, as they realize that their bodies need to repair and regenerate overnight to fuel their next workout. The ideal time to sleep is from 10 p.m. to at least 6 a.m., as the body focuses on physical repair from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and psychological repair from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. If you are exhausted from a lack of sleep it is impossible to exercise effectively, so get to bed on time.
6. They don’t train without water.
Even if you are 1% dehydrated, it can have a noticeable impact on your exercise session, and this is something that fit people understand. Always bring a bottle of water with you when you are exercising. Spring water is better than most of the sports drinks, as sports drinks can be full of artificial sweeteners and other nasties. One simple way to check if you are dehydrated is to look at the color of your urine. If you are well-hydrated your urine should be straw colored, anything darker in color can indicate you are dehydrated. Make sure you are drinking enough water to remain hydrated on a day-to-day basis.
7. They don’t eat highly processed food.
Fit people never eat highly processed food. This is because they realize that processed food is not as nutritious as home-cooked, natural food. Processed food tends to be high in salt, artificial additives, and can contain less nutrients. Especially bad additives are MSG and aspartame, which are in a lot of processed foods. The healthier the food you are eating, the better you can perform in your fitness sessions as your body is likely to be healthier.
