It’s a new year and time to kick-start some long-planned goals for the year, but it may not be easy to stick to the plan.
Even with the best will in the world, many lifestyle change dreams falter because many give up before they reach the center of their goals and resolutions.
Trove Wellness founder and fitness guru Juanita Khumalo says this happens because resolution makers make their year-end resolutions without setting out the challenges they need to overcome first.
He says that before embarking on a fitness journey, one must understand whether their goal is to get fit, build cardiovascular strength, or build muscle. Or simply create a routine.
“People give up on their fitness goals because they haven’t figured out their ‘why.’
“If that doesn’t happen, it will be much harder to commit to their plan. Instead of tackling one thing at a time, they go cold turkey. When you suddenly stop an activity and start a new one, you set yourself up for failure. If you are new to exercise, start with walks, followed by brisk walks, and then light jogging.
“Build your fitness in a sustainable way. With nutrition, if your goal is to cut back on sugar, cut back to one teaspoon per week and the transition may be less difficult.”
Khumalo says wellness and weight management should use an 80/20 ratio: 80% in the kitchen and 20% in the gym.
“You can’t out train a bad diet.” It is important that you understand nutrition and how it affects your fitness.
As a beginner, I encourage you to ease into your exercise routine and adopt healthier habits.
This is what led me to run an annual 21 day #DetoxWithJua every January. A detox plan helps restore your body from holiday indulgence,” she says.
The fitness guru says that beginners should not be overloaded. If they don’t have a personal trainer, he recommends joining a fitness class to get guidance from an instructor. “A fitness class instructor can help you improve your fitness
level and develop an exercise routine that suits your fitness level. That way, you can be motivated to stick with your solution goals until 2023,” he says.
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Boitumelo Kgobotlo