Want to Get Healthier? Start With These 10 Questions
Updated: 5 days ago
We all want to be fit and healthy. At least most of us. (If you don’t really care about that, then you might as well just stop reading here 😅. However, if you have a goal — any health/fitness-related goal — this post is for you.)
Whether you want to lose weight, gain weight, run a marathon, change your eating habits, or make fitness a part of your daily routine… It all starts with the first step. What should you do to make sure you’re walking in the right direction? Here are some tips from me, both a fitness addict and a fitness coach.
First of all, make sure you start where you’re supposed to. Don’t compare yourself to your friends, family, or colleagues from work. Don’t compare yourself to your gym buddies (if you already have some) or your fitness coaches. Don’t compare your 1st chapter to someone else’s 21st.
Being humble and deciding where to start is a crucial point. Very often a difficult one too. With all the judgment surrounding us on daily basis is hard to admit that we are not fit enough to run 5km or to lift as heavy as our peers. This is where the first mistake is usually made.
Remember that all of us, including fitness professionals, marathon runners, CrossFitters, and whomever else you may admire, started taking that first step. We were not born gliding like a gazelle on a running track. We were not born with a "six-pack" (although sometimes it seems like some of us were). And we were definitely not born knowing-it-all.
To help you out a bit, I came up with these
10 questions to help you realize where you actually stand, what your training routine should look like, and how you can get healthier.
Try to be as honest as possible; there are no right or wrong answers. The more honest you are, the more certain you can be that your first step will be in the right direction.
1. What is my fitness/exercise history?
Have you ever followed any training program? Do you know any basic exercises or fitness equipment? Have you tried any types of physical activity? Swimming? Running? Tennis? Dance? Have you been a member of a fitness center before? Etc….
2. Do I have any medical conditions that can prevent me from reaching my goals?
Any past or present illnesses, injuries, conditions. If you are uncertain, I recommend seeing a physician and getting a proper medical check-up to assess your current health status.
3. How much time do I really have? How much can I commit?
We are all busy, so don’t start by lying to yourself and planning on working out an hour every day, seven days a week. Be realistic. Even 15 minutes, 2-3 times a week, will be sufficient if it can be sustainable. Remember, this is just the beginning.
4. What is the one most important goal I would like to reach? How much time will I give myself to get there?
It's good to have one big goal (and be realistic about the deadline), but having smaller goals will help you stay motivated, on track, and eventually get your desired results.
5. Why is it important to me? How will it change my life?
When times get tough, it's good to look back at this answer to remind yourself why you started in the first place and why this goal is important to you.
6. What will happen if I don’t succeed?
Some people get motivated by the fear of failure. Write down a thing (or a few) to see what might happen if you do not reach your goal. Sometimes life gets in the way and throws us off track, which might affect the training program and the result. Knowing that you might fail and being ready to dust yourself off and pick yourself up is an important factor to remember.
7. What will happen if I do succeed?
Think of the best-case scenario. Opposite the previous point, you might be the person who gets motivated by the positive outcome. Imagining yourself as a healthy, lean, super-fit person might be the thing you need. Keeping that image in mind or sharing it with close friends and family might boost your motivation and your will to work hard.
8. What is the most important thing I would like to focus on within the next 30 days?
Here we go back to your short-term goals. As explained before, this will help you stay on track, as it is easier to measure and you might see those results faster.
9. What are the activities I enjoy the most?
Finding joy in your training is one of the most (if not the most) important factors. If you keep doing things you don’t like (whether it's your choice or your trainer’s choice), it will only burn you out faster, make you lose your motivation, and eventually push you to hate your workouts.
So think… Are you an “indoor” or “outdoor” person? Group exercise or individual? Fitness classes or gym? Lifting weights or running, cycling, swimming? Less intensity like yoga, or high-intensity interval training (HIIT)? What kind of fitness equipment have you tried? Like? Don’t like? Would like to try? Etc...
10. Am I able to commit to working on all of the above alone, or do I need some guidance?
Sometimes at the beginning of your fitness journey, you might have a lot of questions. So don’t be shy to ask for help.
There are hundreds of options when it comes to fitness training. You can find coaching online, which is usually much cheaper than hiring a personal trainer. You can ask fitness instructors at your current club for a piece of advice. (If they don’t want to share, just walk away; they are not worth your time.) You can join group fitness classes, which are good for making new friends and also learning some basic moves.
Options to be healthy are many. The only thing you need to begin is your willingness to change and readiness to take that first step.
Now, after answering the questions above, you should have a better understanding of what you actually want to do and what you need to do to get where you want to be.
Now it’s time to explore your options and take first steps.
Step 1 - Come up with a task that you can complete in the next five minutes. (If it’s not doable, it means it’s probably too big; find something smaller.)
E.g., You’ve realized that you’re a Pilates lover? Open your browser and look up 2-3 studios that are the closest to your location. Make a commitment to give them a call (you can just do it right away), or set a reminder in your calendar.
Step 2 - Find a task to complete by the end of the day tomorrow.
E.g., Is it too late to call the Pilates studio right now? Luckily you’ve set a reminder on your phone! Call them tomorrow!
Step 3 - Find a task to complete by the end of this week.
E.g., Three days later, you’ve set an appointment at the Pilates studio you've called! Yey! You’ll meet the instructor, go over their options, and plan your sessions.
Congratulations! You are now one BIG STEP closer to being happier, healthier, and fitter than yesterday!
Working out. Eating better. Still not seeing the change you want?
and discover what’s getting in the way of your results
— and what you should work on first.
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