Recognizing and Derailing Five Common "Fitness Saboteurs"

In addition to healthy eating, is improving your fitness one of your New Year’s resolutions? If moving more is your goal, consistency is a must! Therefore, we’re recognizing and derailing 5 of the most common “fitness saboteurs” from the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

Fitness Saboteur #1: Stress

While stress happens to all of us when life gets chaotic, stress levels have been incredibly high throughout this past year! When you’re feeling extra stressed, fitness may be the last thing on your mind. But REMEMBER: a workout or even a walk is one of the BEST things you can do to alleviate stress!

Fitness Saboteur #2:​ Unrealistic Expectations

Real fitness results come from REALISTIC goals and patience. Recognizing that you’re making a long-term lifestyle change will help you stay on track and ultimately succeed!

Fitness Saboteur #3: Overtraining

Some people tend to train too hard or for too long. But rest and recovery are VITAL to an effective fitness program. Try to schedule strenuous workouts around less strenuous activities to stay motivated, give muscles time to recover, and keep your energy up!

Fitness Saboteur #4: The Unexpected

When thinking about this past year, “The Unexpected” certainly comes to mind – if life is anything, it’s unpredictable. So when scheduling a workout, know that your plans may need to change. Look for opportunities to change things up and try something new instead of skipping your workout altogether.

Fitness Saboteur #5: Negative Self-Talk

Self talk is powerful! Why undermine yourself, your health goals, and your success when you can instead use self-talk to motivate and build confidence? Replace the negative with positive and see a world of difference!

Which fitness saboteurs will you recognize and derail first?