A person’s ight’ is not the only determining factor of their fitness. People have a wrong notion that fitness means maintaining an ideal weight (as per the height) for which they have to exercise/workout regularly.
Fitness goals are not just about weight loss but having a healthy physical, mental and emotional state. However, the pressure to look attractive or fit into a certain size or have a specific shape is increasing with the rage of social media.
Unlike aiming for being healthy, people are rushing to do intense cardio workout or HIIT (High-intensity-interval training). Performing these exercises is not wrong but the intention to lose weight or build muscles only is a point of discussion.This has to be looked at from a different lens and understand whether this will be fruitful in the long run.
Fitness is a journey. Being healthy physically, emotionally and mentally is a process and it has to be done with utmost discipline, dedication and determination. Instead of aiming for weight loss, one should look at setting fitness goals and that too realistic which are achievable and measurable.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced state of mind, right eating habits and physical activity coupled with meditative exercises should be the fitness goal. Through this, one should be able to be more energetic, productive, flexible, efficient, functional, happy and positive.
Below are the 10 fitness goals that one should aim for instead of losing weight:
How many of you actually enjoy your exercise routine? A lot of people dread exercising and see it only as a means for weight loss. This attitude and approach needs to be changed. The moment one shifts their perspective from exercise being a punishment to exercise being a healthy physical routine is when one gets closer to their fitness goal.
It is not necessary that one has to only go to gym or do cardio. Today, there are so many options for getting healthy – Pilates, aerobics, walking and Yoga.
Yoga will help in transforming you completely – on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. Yoga has a lot to offer in terms of asanas, pranayamas, kriyas a nd it is the best method to achieve your physical as well as mental goals.
There are numerous benefits of practicing Yoga – it improves strength, flexibility, posture, balance, and will-power and core strength. It tones the body and helps in weight loss. Slow deep breathing and meditative techniques helps in maintaining the balance of the mind, reduces stress and anxiety, increases concentration and positivity.
The biggest mistake we do is by staying glued to our couch, chair or office seat. We spend hours together in one position and this has adverse effects on our body and mind. Since we fail to move around frequently, we are at a higher risk of getting various complications like heart problems, decrease in the brain functioning and reduced blood flow to the body.
Just doing an hour of physical exercise in the morning is not enough. One should try to be physically active throughout the day. This doesn’t mean that one has to hit the gym again or do a mini-cardio workout. The idea is to not sit in one place for a very longer time. Move as frequently as you can.
In every 45 minutes or an hour, try and do some stretching exercises while sitting in the chair. One can also take a 5-minute break and walk. Apart from this, while one is reading a book or talking on the phone, one can take a walk. Make this a habit and see the difference for yourself.
Have you ondered, why do we need to be flexible? Do you face problems in bending down or stretching your arms to get something? This is a sign that there is tension, rigidity and stiffness in your muscles which owes to lack of flexibility.
As we start aging, our muscles become stiff and we slowly start developing joint pains. Stretching exercises is very important to maintain the flexibility in the body. When the body is flexible, there is increased balance, mobility, stamina and posture. It also reduces muscle or any kind of joint pain and makes one less prone to injuries.
Doing rigorous exercises or high intensity cardio should not be the goal. One should also ensure that they perform other workouts that help in increasing flexibility. Yoga is best to improve flexibility which is essential for the body.
Even if you are someone who is not flexible at all, then Yoga is the best and the safest way to start with for getting the flexibility in your body. There are numerous asanas focusing on flexibility and we are listing a few – Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Stretch), Halasana (Plow Pose) and many more.
While one focuses on exercise and dieting, having sufficient amount of water is always neglected. People do not understand and realize the importance of drinking water. Hydration is of extreme significance for the body.
However, today people hardly have few glasses of water in a day. Drinking water has many benefits as it helps in improving digestion, cognitive functioning, weight management, healthy skin and enhancing strength.
When one does high-intensity workouts or tends to sweat more, the water content in the body reduces which makes one dehydrated. Hence, one should have water frequently as the body requires sufficient amount of water.
Water helps in maintaining the hydration in our body which majorly impacts our physical performance, functioning of the brain and level of energy.
Don’t set unrealistic goals for yourself. Fitting into the jeans or a dress should not be your goal. The goal should be to form habits that are healthy and that can be followed throughout. These habits shouldideally be as follows:
· Waking up early
· Doing stretching exercises
· Going for a walk in the morning
· Soaking in the morning sun
· Practicing Yoga
· Meditating
· Eating right and on time
· Consuming healthy and fresh fruits, vegetables, home-cooked food
· Sleeping on time
· Drinking lots of water
One of the reasons for failure in staying fit is lack of consistency and determination. People start with great enthusiasm but lose the fire and zeal mid-way. Achieving your fitness goals is a journey and a process and one cannot achieve it in two or three months. One has to be dedicated and committed towards their goals.
Staying consistent in your efforts and sticking to a routine is very important as the probability of success goes up. One dedicatedly follows a fitness routine, and then the results will show. It will become a habit. The body gets habituated and sets to the rhythm of your routine.
Once your mind and body are adapted to the new routines, it is easier for you to stick to it and reach to your goals. Also, it is better to follow one fixed routine rather than trying multiple things and not being consistent. One should try and adopt a fitness regime which is in alignment with their lifestyle.
One of the most important points to remember while being on a fitness regime is to maintain a balance. It is crucial to understand that one should not starve or give up eating foods that they like. All you need to know is to eat in moderation and have home cooked food.
Along with exercising, resting your body is equally important. While eating healthy food, it is also important to eat something that you crave for. But there should be a correct balance of it. Another point to note is to be mindful and aware while you are eating or exercising. Be in an alert or aware state at all times.
If you are mindful, you will be able to listen to your body language. Your body gives you signals as to when it is hungry, tired and not feeling up to it. While you are on this fitness journey, learn to listen and respect your body and aim for balance rather than perfection.
Without having a proper rest, your fitness and health is incomplete. Sleep is as important as eating right and exercising to achieve the desired physical and mental health. The sleeping hours is the actual time where the body repairs, rebuilds and protects energy for the next day’s challenges and workouts.
Getting 8-9 hours of sleep is considered best, however, with the current hectic lifestyle, it gets difficult. So, one should at least aim to get 7 hours of sleep which is a mandatory. When the body and mind is well-rested, one can see the change the next morning. One is energetic, refreshed, positive and active to do more.
It is crucial that you do not compromise on your beauty sleep and try to get 7-8hours of sleep daily.
If you are wondering how can meditation help you in achieving your fitness goals? Let us explain. Meditation quiets the racing thoughts in the mind. A strong and balanced state of mind is needed to carry out the day-to-day activities.
In meditation, we learn to relax ourselves and find the equilibrium. We get the strength, willpower, balance and peace to function our toughest tasks smoothly. One should certainly include the practice of meditation in their daily fitness routine.
Through meditation, one will be better equipped to achieve their goals as they will receive the will-power to stick to their tasks and finish it successfully.
Must Know: What are the Meditation Yoga Goals and Benefits?
One cannot achieve fitness goals if they do not love or accept themselves. Self-love is very important while achieving any fitness goal. Accepting and loving your body is the first positive step towards a healthy you.
When you are optimistic about yourself, one is in a better mental state to achieve their physical goals. No matter what, always love, accept and respect yourself. This is the mantra to achieving any goal in life.
Staying healthy is not difficult, but one needs to have a strong desire backed with discipline and determination to achieve their health goals. Losing weight should never be the goal, rather aim for better immune system with a strong and balanced physical and mental state.
Start with the right intention and adopt a method which is correct and in sync with your lifestyle. Fitness is a life-long journey and your body is your temple. It is your duty to take care of it and ensure that you treat it well. Your body is going to be with you till the end and you should ensure it is healthy.