Many people begin some form of working out because they're unhappy with the way parts of their body look. But, do they ever reflect on how they're feeling?
One of the most important parts of working out is being able to listen to your body and know when you may be pushing it too far. It's OK to not like doing sit-ups or using the elliptical. Your body will let you know. If you don't like one workout, you can try another and see what works for you. If you don't like what you're doing, working out isn't going to be fun and it's going to be harder to make progress.
Working out is partly about appearance. Do you like the way you look? Are you building more muscle or eventually getting results from your routine? These types of results take time, but you may find changes inside yourself first. At least when I started running I felt better about myself which reflected on my appearance and I liked myself more. It didn't happen right away, but probably within the first few months of running every day or every other day. The key is to focus on progress and have the mentality that doing something is anything. Even if you pushed yourself just a little more today and got in one more squat, that's progress.
Most people who want to work out want to lose weight, but being healthy is most important. Find a workout that works with your schedule and try to stick to it. It could be buying a treadmill for your home so you can run inside when the weather is bad, getting a personal trainer, or using arm and leg machines at the gym. Whatever it is, be sure to give yourself one or two resting days and remember that you're only competing with yourself. Don't feel like you have to start off at a certain point or need to do a lot at first. Something valuable I've learned is to start at my own pace and slowly build up. When I did this, running was enjoyable and something I actually looked forward to.
Along with being healthy, be sure you are eating the right foods so you can get the most out of your body. You can't eat fried food all the time and expect your body to be able to get through the workouts you want to do. I wouldn't completely restrict yourself from a craving, but there are ways to limit yourself with portions. Typically, try to eat as many fruits and vegetables throughout the day as you can because that will give you a lot of the nutrients your body needs. Of course meat and chicken can do your body well, but those portions should be smaller. I'm no expert and everyone's body is a little different, but read about what foods can give your body the most nutrients and energy.
Consider keeping a journal where you can track what you eat or how much you workout. With how busy you are each day, it may be hard to remember to think about your workouts and how you feel, but this could be a great visual to keep track of your progress.
You don't have to work out, but it's a great stress reliever especially if you're sitting down all day in class or an office. Whatever you do, just make sure you're doing it for yourself and that you enjoy what you're doing. It's not going to be easy, but your body is capable of a lot so try to make the most of it.
