7 Ways To Get Faster Results From Your Fitness Routine

We all want fast results.  We are living in the ‘microwave’ generation where we want things and we want them now.  Fitness and weight loss are no exception.  Many people struggle with weight loss.  That’s not exactly a seismic revelation I know, but it is unfortunate and avoidable.

Too many times people embark on an exercise program and see early results only to become frustrated with the fact that those results have plateaued.  So, in an effort to give a little guidance to those who are struggling to see fast weight loss results; here are 7 tips to turbo-charge your fitness program right now.

1.    Find a workout partner or group to exercise with- There is power in numbers and this is especially true with exercise.  When you workout alone it is far too easy to blow it off or stop before you have truly pushed yourself.  When you train with a friend or in a group setting you have instant accountability.  You have someone to push you, not let you quit, and be sure you are getting off of the couch everyday to get your body moving.  It’s easy to tell yourself no.  It’s not so easy to tell a friend no.

2.    Add resistance training to your routine- Lean muscle is the body’s fat burning furnace.  Lean muscle is built through resistance training.  The presence of lean muscle speeds up the metabolism and helps the body burn fat all day long.  A properly designed fitness and weight loss program must be centered around resistance training.  Resistance training and cardiovascular/aerobic training three times a week should be the goal.  Keep in mind that when I speak of lean muscle I do not mean big bulky muscles.  To obtain the toned, sleek look that many want resistance training is a must.  Adding just one pound of lean muscle will cause the body to burn 50 additional calories a day.  That’s over 18,000 calories a year!

3.    Focus on nutrition- Nutrition is 80-90% of your weight loss success.  It is nearly impossible to get true, lasting results without proper nutrition.  Proper nutrition is the toughest part for many people.  It requires knowledge, discipline, and planning.  I recommend eating 5-6 small meals a day consisting of lean protein, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates.  Also, do your best to dramatically cut or eliminate sugar and simple carbohydrates from your diet.  If you are confused about nutrition or need a little extra guidance seek the advice of a nutritionist.  It’s that important.

4.    Keep a journal- This is one of the best tools for weight loss.  Keeping a journal can be an eye opening experience.  Take 10-15 minutes a day to write down everything you ate, and I mean everything.  Even that handful of m&m’s you snuck while no one was looking.  Also, write down the exercise activities you performed that day.  Then take some time to review it.  It will become very apparent why you are succeeding or why you are failing.

5.    Write down your weight loss goals and then tell 5 people close to you what they are- Studies show that those who take the time to write out their goals succeed at a much higher rate than those who do not.  And, when you vocalize those goals to people close to you, the success rate is even higher.  When you write out your goals and tell them to friends and family, they will be watching closely to see if you succeed.  That’s motivating!  They will also offer help and encouragement.  Just make sure your goals are realistic and measurable.

6.    Always have a positive mindset- There is a direct link between our thoughts and what we get out of life.  Those with a negative outlook tend to find negativity and failure in everything they do.  The opposite is true for those with a positive outlook.  If you begin a fitness and weight loss routine and you expect to fail…you will.  If you truly expect to succeed, however, then there is nothing that can stop you.

7.    Seek the advice of an expert- It’s funny, when someone’s car breaks down they take it to a mechanic.  When their pipes burst they call the plumber.  When they have legal trouble they call an attorney.  When their body breaks down or needs a tune up they try to do it by themselves.  The body is the most complicated piece of machinery we will ever own.  If this weren’t the case then weight loss would be easy to figure out and easy to fix.  If you continue to struggle with weight loss calling on a fitness professional may be the best thing to do.

Take these suggestions to heart and put them into practice.  If you do success is just around the corner.