Weight loss is a journey that has ups and downs. When challenges arise, it’s easy to lose interest or abandon your fitness regimen. There’s no replacement for diet and exercise when it comes to healthy living, so it’s important to stay motivated.

How to Eat Better & Exercise More

1. Set Weekly Goals

Each body reacts differently to exercise, and you’ll experience plateaus and roadblocks that can make it seem like you aren’t progressing. Long-term goals can seem daunting, so create smaller, weekly goals to keep you motivated, like going to the gym twice a week or taking walks before and after work on Mondays and Thursdays. Achieving these can keep you feeling excited and accomplished. You won’t always lose weight at the same pace despite sticking to your workout, especially if you’re replacing fat with lean muscle. Paying attention to achievements rather than pounds may prevent you from feeling discouraged.

2. Pair Up

Some days, you simply don’t feel like going to the gym. Putting off sessions can become a habit, and before you know it, you aren’t exercising anymore. It can be the same with diet cheat days. Partner up for added motivation and support. Work out with a friend who has similar goals or join an exercise class. You can also hire a personal fitness trainer. To ensure you eat healthily, get your family on-board with clean eating at home. You can start having healthy lunches with a friend at work so that you stick to your meal plan.

3. Change Your Workout

Working out consistently could cause you to get bored with your diet and fitness routine. Consider swimming one week rather than jogging, or switch from traditional weight training to high-intensity interval workouts. To keep your menu interesting, try specialty diets, like keto or Mediterranean. If you need more kitchen skills to prepare healthy dishes you’ve never tasted, take a cooking class and think of it as a growing hobby.

If you’ve experienced injuries while sticking to your fitness routine, contact the professionals at IMUA Orthopedics, Sports & Health in Honolulu, HI. This sports medicine practice offers comprehensive care and recovery services to patients of all ages across Oahu, including nutritional medicine, osteopathic manipulation, and orthopedic surgery. Learn more about their exercise and lifestyle prescriptions online, or call (808) 521-8170 to schedule an appointment.