One of the biggest problems people have when it comes to staying fit and active is sustainability. If your approach is not a sustainable one, you simply won’t stick to it. That’s why it’s important to understand why people struggle to stay consistent and sustain their plans and what you can do to avoid those traps.

Why most people fail at fitness

An all-or-nothing mindset

One of the main reasons people fail at fitness is because they have an all-or-nothing mindset. They think that in order to be fit, they have to go to the gym every day for two hours and do intense workouts. This is simply not sustainable in the long run. Most people can’t keep up this type of regimen and eventually give up.

Impatience

People often fail at fitness because they are impatient. They want to see results immediately and when they don’t, they get discouraged and give up.

The key to sustainable fitness is patience and consistency. It takes time to see results from your efforts, but if you stick with it, you will eventually see progress. Trust the process and don’t give up!

Lack of variety

Another common reason people fail at fitness is because they get bored easily or they don’t find their workouts enjoyable. If you dread going to the gym or doing your workout routine, it’s going to be very difficult to stick with it in the long run.

That’s why it’s important to find an activity or activities that you enjoy and look forward to doing on a regular basis. Whether it’s hiking, biking, swimming, playing tennis, or something else entirely, find something that gets you moving and that you can see yourself doing on a regular basis.

How to make your approach to fitness more sustainable

Set realistic goals

The first step to making your fitness journey more sustainable is to set realistic goals. Instead of vowing to lose 50 pounds in two months, commit to losing one or two pounds a week. This may not seem like much, but it adds up over time and is a much more achievable goal.

Find an activity and gym you enjoy

If you hate running on the treadmill, there’s no reason to force yourself to do it just because someone told you it’s the best way to lose weight. Find an activity that you actually enjoy and make it part of your routine. The same goes for choosing a gym – if you dread going, you’re less likely to stick with it long-term. A popular option like Fitness 19 might be a good place to start.

Make a plan

Fitness doesn’t have to be all or nothing – you can still have cheat meals and skip a workout here and there and still be successful. The key is to have a plan in place so that when life happens, you know how to get back on track quickly. This could mean prepping meals ahead of time, scheduling workouts into your calendar, or having a backup plan for when things don’t go as planned.