The Starting Problem…

The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones

– A Chinese Proverb

No matter what you want to achieve with your fitness, it’s not easy. If it feels easy, you should make it more challenging. But here’s the important question: “Is my fitness goal something I can really do?” That’s the first thing to figure out. If your goal is too hard, you might give up quickly.

To start, the first thing is to set a goal that you can actually achieve over a long time. Then, break this big goal into smaller goals. It took me about 5 years to lose around 29 kilograms. That might seem slow compared to apps or videos you find online. But honestly, it’s not about how fast you do it, as long as you get results and keep trying. There’s a saying that goes “Don’t rush, or you might make mistakes,” and that’s true for getting fit.

In the past 20-25 years, I tried to exercise many times and failed. I gave up too easily. But the main reason was that I didn’t enjoy working out. So the first thing you need to do is find a type of exercise you really like. It could be running, walking, biking, going to the gym, doing yoga, or playing sports.

To stick with it, you might need to make three important changes in your life:

1. Eating Right: Often, we set really tough goals for our diet. We end up giving up everything and then feeling too hungry, so we go back to bad habits. If your goal is just to lose some weight and get healthier, you can make small changes that work really well. Here are a few things you can do:
   • Eat your meals at the same times every day. Avoid snacking between meals.
   • Drink lots of water, but not all at once. Have 3-4 bottles of water throughout the day.
   • Eat smaller portions and try to have a balanced diet.
   • Avoid sugary drinks and junk food. You can treat yourself once in a while with a special dessert or meal.
2. Exercising: The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that everyone should do at least 30 minutes of exercise. This should be something that gets your heart pumping. So, if you thought walking is enough, you’re mistaken! Walking is good, especially if you’re older or have health issues, but it’s not a full workout. Try to do something more intense for 30 minutes a day.
3. Resting: Believe it or not, sleeping and resting are also part of staying healthy. Try to sleep and wake up early. Getting a good 8 hours of sleep helps your body recover from exercise. You’ll wake up feeling refreshed.

If you make these small changes, you can keep going for a long time. The key is to train your mind to stick to these habits. Once you’re sure you won’t give up, you can ask a dietitian or a fitness trainer for professional advice.

So give these changes a try and let me know if they help you.

Stay Safe! Stay Healthy!