Getting Started

Everybody starts somewhere

The hardest part of getting fit is the beginning of the journey. Once you started, the hardest part would be maintaining it.

Many people actually took the new year as a time to start a new journey so their NY resolutions include losing weight. Unfortunately, survey shows that only 8% managed to stick to their resolution. Are you the 8% or are you in the other group ?

Don't despair if you have quit. You don't need a new year to start anew. You just need a new Monday. Hmm, Friday works too. It really doesn't matter. Just do it. Today! Coz as you all know, tomorrow never comes :P

If you're at the verge of quitting, DON'T ! Starting over is MUCH harder so don't give up !

Here are some tips on how to get started, based on my own experience.

1. Motivation

First you need to ask yourself why do you do it ? If the reason is to impress whoever it is you wanna impress, just forget it. You won't last long. You'll be more motivated when the reason is for your own satisfaction.

More than a year ago, I was a social butterfly. I was smoking and alcohol was my best friend. As time passed by, my clothes got tighter. Everything in my closet was fugly that it took me at least 2 hours to find for something to wear. Even then, I looked horrendous ! My self-confidence dropped a lil when I see gorgeous girls in gorgeous dresses at the club. I envied them so much.

So when my birthday came, my boyfriend and I decided to join a local gym.

I was a gym rat prior to that but I quit because I lost motivation. For 3 years, my workout was not consistent. I would stop for few months then continue for few times only to quit again.

It was like that initially when I started gym again. Then I found Jamie Eason. She was like a Goddess to me ! I wanted to be her ! So I followed her Live Fit program (Sorry Jamie, I didn't finish the program. I quit at Phase 2)

Then I saw my sister's transformation. She was never smaller than me but at that time, she did. She was glowing. I was jealous ! I told myself I need to really put myself into it. Give it my all. It didn't really work. I couldn't be bothered. Yes I was jealous whenever I see her but that wasn't good enough of a motivation for me.

Few months after, I decided to quit smoking because I was having minor chest pains. I went cold turkey and I swear it was one of the best decision I have ever made ! My stamina improved and I slowly improved in terms of strength and endurance. Whenever I lift heavier weight than I ever did, I was overjoyed ! So that was my motivation ! To be able to run faster and lift heavier. To break my own personal records. I am my own competitor !

To me, that is my ultimate motivation. The pusher. It pushes me to the level I've never been to.

You need to find this kind of motivation. It must be about you. YOU must want it. Not everybody else.

2. Find what's right for you

Remember, there is no such thing as one program fits all. You need to find your mojo. Just because everyone is running, it does not mean you have to run too. If you don't like running, DON'T ! Try other forms of cardio.

I have been preaching of lifting weights to a lot of girls but most of them do not like it. It's fine, you don't have to lift weights.

Bottom line is, do what you like. As long as you enjoy what you do, your fitness journey would sustain longer.

3. Nutrition

Oh this is something I'm struggling with myself. I have a love hate relationship with my eating habit.

As much as I wish for it, there is no shortcut when it comes to food but I will give you a few options.

Option A : You want a fitness model look.

Sorry hun, absolutely no processed/sugar/fried/junk for you. Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym. So stop doing the abs workout daily. Those abs are the same as your other muscles, they need to rest. In order for it to show, you need to lose the body fat. So you gotta stick to clean eating. Don't binge !

Option B : You're doing this just to be (means, FEEL) fit.

I'm a strong believer of moderation. Some people would sacrifice all awesome food just to look good. I don't.

For me, I eat clean most of the time. I cut all processed food like burger, sausages and everything in cans. Well almost everything in cans. I eat brown rice rice instead of white rice, wholemeal bread instead of white bread, natural peanut butter instead of added sugar. Seriously babes, natural PB tastes MUCH better than the added sugar version. It's the BOMB !

Although I do all that, I tend to indulge once in awhile. Okay, maybe more than I should. It's a learning process, a progression. I will improve myself as time goes by.

Despite the indulgence, I feel great. Tummy might not be flat just yet but I feel awesome. Why ? Coz I'm much stronger and faster than I was a year ago. My clothes fit well. And I don't look as bad in a bikini. LOL !

So determine what you want and your nutrition should support your goals. Just make sure your calorie intake is less than calories burned in order for you to lose weight. Regardless which option you go for.

4. Fail to plan, plan to fail. Set goals.

Back in school, we had time schedule to tell us when was our classes. We followed the same schedule every week. It was so easy right ? Bell rings, close the book, off to the next class. You don't have to spend your time thinking.

It's the same thing with working out. Especially when you have tons of things in your hand.

I have my week planned out. I plotted in my working out sessions, my working hours, my classes and revision sessions. I follow the plan weekly. It's just like you're a businesswoman and all the timings are your appointment. You have got to get to the appointments in order for you to make your business successful.

One thing that would help you tremendously is to plan your meals weekly. Design a menu, list down the ingredients, and prepare your food once or twice a week. You can freeze it and heat it up when you want to eat them. This way, you are more likely to stray away from healthy food.

5. Get educated

Everything you need to know is now online. If you do not know how to do a certain workout, google it. What food to eat, google it. Which workout to plan, google it.

Most importantly, you need to know what benefit will you get from each workout. What nutrition each food gives you.

I started with www.bodybuilding.com. That site is like THE bible of fitness. Then over time, I found loads of other fitness websites that give valuable information. Again, I googled them.

6. Fake it till you make it

No one likes hard work or sacrificing the yummylicious food. NO ONE. How did I do it ? I faked it. Told myself I like working out. I like being so uncomfortable that my heart wants to explode. I like all the bland food I'm eating.

Guess what ?

Now I love it ! I love feeling the burn. I love running even when my legs are telling me to stop. Clean food is yummy when you found the right recipe.