One of the biggest difficulties when it comes to dieting and exercise is incorporating them into a busy and often inconsistent schedule. This is a big deterrent, and eventually, it becomes used as an excuse. The worst mindset to have when you fall off the bandwagon is the thought, "I'll do it next week," or "I'll start tomorrow," or "Once this project is over, I'll try to make time."
If you want to keep from falling off the bandwagon when it comes to your diet and/or exercise program, or start a new program but force yourself to commit to it, here are some tips that will make a world of difference:
Allot time to exercise in your calendar.
When you're at work, you schedule everything in your calendar (hopefully). Treat your workout/exercise time just as critically (it is).
Every Sunday night, sit down for a few minutes and look at your schedule for the week ahead, then allot an hour or so of exercise to at least 3-5 days of the week. What seems like a nuisance now will pay off in big rewards in the future.
If you're not looking for weight-training but for a cardio-related activity, check out the times of your local gym's fitness classes and schedule around those. Spin classes are a great way to start, especially if you're uncomfortable with entering into a new arena. With a spin class, you just sign in, hop on a bike and listen to the instructor. You'll also experience an excitingly rigorous cardio session, all within one hour.
Begin a food log and remain diligent with it.
Luckily (or unluckily in some cases), we're in the age of technology. There's no reason to lug around a big notebook, in which you have to log every single meal or snack during the day.
There are plenty of food log apps that you can download onto your phone, which is probably always at hand. Apps, such as MyFitnessPal, are an excellent way to quickly log in meals, thereby tracking your macros and calories. MyFitnessPal also has a barcode scanner, with which you can scan snacks or grocery products that you buy to determine their nutritional value. It couldn't be easier!
Always look 6 weeks ahead to your goal.
This final thought will keep you diligent about committing to your nutritional or exercise plan. Whenever you don't feel like going to that one gym class or eating well for a day, think about where you want to be 6 weeks from now, and use that to motivate you. Be your own motivation.
Following these tips, you'll find yourself that much closer to your ultimate physique goals, and you'll be proud of the fact that you were able to remain so consistent. Eventually, you may even enjoy it!