Whether you have that dreaded 25-year high school reunion coming up, or are taking that long walk down the aisle, getting in shape fast takes on a whole new urgency when there is an event looming. Getting shape fast can be a challenge for many of us. According to recently published statistics 25% of American adults do not exercise at all.
On the upside of things if you are in that 25% of adults that do not leave the couch unless necessary, getting in shape fast for you may actually be easier. Going from no exercise to at least some exercise can have some big effects on your level of fitness. Getting in shape fast is possible for everyone you should need to know where to start.
What is Your Motivation?
The success of getting in shape fast really depends on how motivated you are. Let’s say for example you are getting married in 6 months and you have a great honeymoon planned that you want to be in good shape to enjoy.
Start a vision board, it does not have to be a large vision board, it just needs to be one that you can see to remind you of what you are suffering for. Write notes to yourself that are encouraging but to the point and leave them on the refrigerator so every time you open the refrigerator you see the reminder.
A great vision board to get ready for your wedding would be a picture of your wedding invitation, a picture of the honeymoon brochure, and what you would like to look like (cut a picture from a magazine). Make a couple and put them where you can see them every single day, several times a day so you are reminded of your goals.
Tell trusted friends and family members what you are trying to do so they can get on board and provide support. Setting up a system of support can help you to reach your goals. They can help you to stay focused on the end goal and encourage you.
Keep your eye on the prize and getting in shape fast will not seem as hard. As long as you keep your goal in mind and focus on the benefits of the potential outcome it will be easier to stay motivated.
Let’s Make a Deal
Motivation can be elusive on some days, but there are a few tricks you can use to keep that motivation up. Making a deal with yourself is a great way to stay on track. For example, maybe you just do not feel like doing any exercise today. Make a deal with yourself if you walk for 30 minutes you can come home and watch a few episodes of your favorite show.
Being accountable to yourself and rewarding good behavior can help to motivate you to get in shape quickly. Learn how to compromise with yourself and use it to keep yourself motivated. You can be your own biggest fan and cheering squad.
Make the deal with yourself and stick to it. Getting in shape fast can be as easy as you make it.
See Your Doctor First
It is always a good idea to see your doctor before you start getting in shape fast. Your health care provider may even have tips that can help you along on your journey. It is always a good idea to get a baseline for your health before you get started on your journey to getting fit.
While it is important for everyone to get the go-ahead from their physician it is especially important for anyone that is dealing with cardiac problems. Getting the all-clear from your doctor is an important part of the process.
Your cardiologist can be a wealth of knowledge when it comes to not only getting in shape fast but how you can do it safely. You never want to jeopardize your health by overdoing. Your health care provider will likely be very excited that you are looking for ways of getting in shape fast because it will improve your health.
Let your doctor know about your goals and get input from him or her about how you can reach those goals. They may have the perfect plan for you to follow. It is important that you fill your doctor in on your plan.
Getting in Shape Fast Can Mean Not Doing Certain Things
There are only two things that make a difference when you are trying to get in shape. What you take in, and what you put out. In other words, what you eat and drink and how you burn that energy. The goal is to take in fewer calories than burn more than you take in. That formula is the absolute best way to get back in shape.
With that being said there is a lit of things that you should cut out of your diet like beverages that contain sugar, yes that means your nightly whiskey has to go. Water should be your go-to beverage with every meal.
Simple carbohydrates also need to be curbed. While you do not have to completely cut any food group out you should know the more you restrict calories coming from food that is heavy with fats and sugar the faster you will get in shape.
There is tons of information available both online and off about nutrition and what you should avoid if you are trying to get in shape. If after doing some research you are still struggling with what you need to eliminate from your diet consider seeing a nutritionist.
A nutritionist can customize a diet plan to your goals. They can counsel you and provide you with all the information you need to make smart food choices that will help you on your journey of getting in shape fast.
If you have good health insurance your insurance company may even pay for your visit to the nutritionist in the interest of getting you healthier so that you cost them less. Ask your insurance company if they cover nutritionist fees. Even if they don’t if you know your diet is what is keeping you back from getting in shape it is well worth the out of pocket costs to see a nutritionist.
Getting in shape fast with diet alone is possible but not really recommended. The fact is that getting in shape requires exercise. Your heart is a muscle the more you work it the stronger it becomes. Adding a cardio routine to your daily activities will help tremendously with getting in shape fast.
Cardio for the Couch Potato
Let’s acknowledge the fact that getting started is the hardest part in any new exercise plan, so slow and steady wins the race. If you suffer from back pain, joint problems, or are dealing with other physical limitations, low impact is the way to go.
You do not have to be able to get up and start running laps, there are plenty of ways to get the cardio that you need for getting in shape fast. Consider the following low impact cardio options:
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Using a seated row machine, using exercise bands, other exercises
If you cant run, walk, walking can be a great form of low impact cardio exercise. Start out slow then pick up the speed. Over time you can add hand weights while you walk. Yoga is a great form of exercise for people that have joint problems. While technically not cardio it can help with getting in shape fast.
Swimming is great low impact cardio workout. You use every muscle group while you swim and you also give your heart a good work out. Water aerobics is also an excellent form of cardio workout that is safe for the joints.
Get creative with your workouts and change things up. Buy a bicycle and start riding around the neighborhood. You do not have to be race-ready you can just ride around at a comfortable pace to get that heart pumping.
Challenge yourself to do more and push yourself a little harder each time. The more exercise you do the more calories you burn, the faster you will be at getting in shape fast.
Low Investment Great Results
Budget is one of the worst excuses for not getting in shape. You do not have to invest a lot of cash to get in shape. Look for free opportunities to work out like community pools, a chemical free pool with community access would be even better.
Hit the running trails in your local neighborhood park. Pickleball is a fun paddle ball sport that is becoming very popular it may be something you want to try at the local community court. Pickleball equipment is very affordable, and the game will have you burning calories like crazy. Take up golf. You do not have to hit up the fancy golf club, there are plenty of public courses to try out.
There are opportunities no matter where you live to get up, get out, and start getting the exercise that you need to get in shape fast. As a matter of fact, it is a good idea to not invest in an expensive health club membership until you are at least pretty sure it is something you are going to use.
Should You Use Supplements
There are plenty of supplements that are on the market that promise great things. You have to be cautious with anything that you take because you could wind up with some ill side effects that really put a few bumps in the road of your journey.
For example, CBD oil is a great option for minor pain relief and is typically void of any side effects but other OTC supplements even if they are natural can be dangerous. Natural does not mean completely safe.
In some cases natural supplements can be dangerous when taken in large doses. Resorting to supplements that can potentially cause you unwanted side effects is never a good way to get in shape. Some supplements can cause stomach upset, mood swings, and more.
Before you take anything that promises to help with getting in shape fast, be sure that you check out the reviews written by other users at independent websites. Getting a feel for what potential side effects you might experience will help you to make an informed decision.
Self Care Is Important
Getting in shape fast does not mean neglecting yourself. You do not want to become so consumed with meeting your goal that you neglect yourself. You have to recognize when you need a break from the routine and take it easy.
Take the time to regroup when you need to and do not be too hard on yourself if you fall off the wagon on your journey to getting in shape fast. If you wallow in the setbacks you will struggle to reach your goals.
One of the best ways to deal with slip-ups is to just move forward. Let’s say you consume more sweets than you should on a Sunday and do not work out to boot, and the next day you continue to eat poorly. It can be easy to get discouraged but don’t. Just reboot on Tuesday and keep it moving. No matter your mistake, you always have another golf game coming up. You can get back on track.
Forgive your mistakes and get right back on track. The time will move forward whether you get back on track or not, so you might as well just put the past mistakes behind you and get right back in the game.
Getting in shape fast is possible you just need a plan and to take that very first step. You can do it.