Health Lies We Tell Ourselves

Rather lying or making promises to yourself that you can’t keep, set health goals that are attainable and surpass them. Throw away these 5 from your mindset and start to shape a new you.

1) "I'll Go To The Gym Tomorrow"

Famous last words of the fitness newbie. You've been once or twice and haven't been bitten by the gym bug. You take your kit to work and promise to hit the treadmill before heading home, but something happens and before you know it, you’re back on the sofa watching TV.

Unless you've scheduled a rest day and deserve a day off, you've no excuse. Try to stick to what you've planned and the results will eventually pay off. It can take around three months to form a habit, so don’t feel bad if you find it hard to motivate yourself initially. Try to make it a fun experience rather than a chore: find a gym buddy, reward yourself (in moderation) or track your progress as a means of boosting your fitness confidence.

2) “I Don’t Really Drink Alcohol"

If you love indulging in the odd tipple every now and again, pay close attention to your intake. You could be feeling the symptoms of excessive alcohol consumption without even realising that that’s the root of the problem - these can include tiredness, dehydration and tooth sensitivity.

This can apply to evening drinkers who enjoy winding down with a glass of wine, or weekend partiers who slip into the habit of binge drinking. Remember that you aren’t invincible and it’s wise to be drink-smart.

3) “Crash Dieting Will Work”

After a weeks of "I'll go to the gym tomorrow” that holiday or special occasion you were hoping to lose a few pounds for has suddenly crept up on you. You’ve 14 days till the big event and need a quick fix to remedy the issue.

This is a bad idea. Not only is it an unhealthy dieting technique, but it isn’t useful if you’re hoping to lose weight in the long term. It forces you to become nutritionally unbalanced, leading you to feel unwell and unhappy.

If you’ve a date in the diary that you’re aiming to get fit for, approach it slowly and set yourself realistic targets. If that date is sooner than you’d realised, don’t crash diet - work on being comfortable in your own skin and enjoy the event as you are, there’s nothing to worry about.

4) “I’ve Put On A Little Extra Weight, It’s In My Genes”

Coming to terms with the fact you've put on a little extra weight can be hard going. Sometimes you’re so engrossed with work or social distractions that your health is put on the back-burner, and you only realise that action needs to be taken when your clothes start to feel tighter.

While there is research to suggest that weight gain can be attributed to genetics, it can’t be used as an excuse to stop yourself from getting into shape. If you start to feel unhealthy, don’t wait until the problem gets worse. Be proactive - exercise more, sleep well and reduce your intake of sugary foods.

5) “I Can’t Do It”

Your inner voice probably whispers this to you more than it should. The battle to get fit is 90% mental, so you need all the help you can get, starting with YOU. Tell yourself over and over that you aren’t going to achieve your goals and you won’t.

Switch it to “I can do it,” even if you don’t believe it, and you’ll be surprised by the results. Positive thinking is a powerful tool that you should use to its full potential, starting today.

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