There are many people who have never adopted fitness into their daily routines. They suddenly wake up one day when they have been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension and start going for walks. Some start gymming or going for Yoga or Zumba classes to lose weight after Diwali or when they make a New Year resolution.
But after a few months, after they have achieved their goals, it’s back to square one.
There are many successful entrepreneurs who have gone through life without focusing on their health and well being. They were busy earning the big bucks and as they reach their 60s they suddenly wake up and now have time for fitness. Or let me learn Yoga. But, unfortunately its too much late in the day.
They lack the motivation to pursue it any further. Why does this happen? Because it is all in the mind really. Getting fit, losing weight or fat loss and being appreciated for it are external motivating factors.
What is lacking here the internal or intrinsic motivation which can be inherently rewarding. Like it’s the enjoyment of the workout, loving the peace while meditating, feeling the body stretch between while doing Yoga asanas.
A feeling of happiness, stressfree invigoration and enjoying the lovely beats to Zumba and Aerobics.
The trick here is to love the workouts. If Sushma wants to shed 15 kgs of weight but hates to go to the gym or even do yoga. It is too much of an effort for her to pay the money, attend the class as she has never done it before.
So, she goes in for a diet plan, just to achieve her weight lossShehnaaz Gill’s Weight Loss journey goals. Well, somehow she manages to lose 10 kgs and give up; as following the diet giving up her favourite wheat rotis, white rice and sweets is too much of a sacrifice.
So, after going back to her normal lifestyle of diet and not exercising, Sushma is back to being where she was six months down the line. Why? Because she was really focusing on the extrinsic motivation factor. Her brain responded for sometime, although she was not willing. Or many fitness is a chore that they want to really avoid.
The magic lies in building up good habits in childhood. Children should be encouraged to pick up a sport, join Yoga, Zumba or dance classes. It should become a part of our daily routines like brushing our teeth or eating food, so that we don’t have to make that effort for it.
Similarly for dieting. Instead of going on a diet, can we just focus on a healthy lifestyle food modification plans. So, we can then get rid of all wrong eating patterns, binge eating and emotional eating. You probably have got used to going in for a pastry when in a bad mood. Instead, why not go cycling or do a bit of meditation instead of wrong eating patterns.
So, from my experience I can tell you fitness is all about habits. Not short term but long term habits. Find an activity you love and stick to it consistently. It need not be connected to a goal but it can just bring you some joy and peace.