Fit people have different wiring. They like to do things that most people hate.
They love going to the gym. They show up every day and want long-term gratification.
Exercise is their addiction and a healthy lifestyle is their holy grail.
Here are five stupidly simple rules that the fittest follow.
1. Follows the Pareto Principle
Very healthy people I know eat healthy every day. They never break the rules of basic nutrition, but they can bend a little every now and then.
They follow the Pareto Principle rigorously, eating healthy food 80% of the time and respecting their desires the rest of the time.
They’ve learned that no matter how much you lift in the gym, if you don’t control what you use in the kitchen, your health and weight will be ruined.
They follow the bare minimum of habits that help them produce maximum results with small efforts such as food preparation.
So they make it a habit to eat healthy most of the day. They balance out with cheat meals every week.
It’s a cheat meal, not a cheat day, but I try to eat in moderation to avoid overeating.
2. Has a core reason Exercise
People in good health maintain healthy habits for years without effort.
It would baffle ordinary jokes that some people can exercise every day without excuses. But what they don’t realize is that for healthy people, exercise is as instinctive as brushing your teeth.
They’ve been working out in the gym for so long that it’s now impossible to imagine life without exercise.
This addiction usually starts with anxiety that you try to hide.
- I started working out to fight the demons of the mind.
- A friend of mine started working out because she was bullied for being thin all her life.
- My mother started yoga because she had a bad back and was afraid she would be bedridden again.
People in good physical condition continue their exercise routine for years. It’s because there’s a fundamental reason why you can’t let go.
And this reason means more than losing a few pounds, getting six-pack abs, or building a great booty.
Find the core reasons that motivate you to come to work every day.
3. You integrate fitness into other aspects of your life
People with good health are successful in making fitness easier. They have established a fitness mindset that helps them choose the healthiest options.
They sometimes stray from the road, but always get back on track smoothly.
They have added fitness to every aspect of their lives.
- They work at standing desks.
- They go trekking for leisure.
- They prioritize their mental health.
- They make healthy recipes with their family.
After years of hard work, a healthy lifestyle now comes naturally. Through hundreds of setbacks, they have mastered the art of healthy living.
It looks easy, but in reality, this is the hardest thing they’ve ever done.
4. Make fitness fun
Exercise can become stale, even after years of practice. So fit people try to mix things up and keep it fun.
For seven years I have experimented with many forms of exercise including yoga, running, Zumba, weight training and HIIT.
One time, I was so bored with my regular exercise routine that I decided to go to a nearby trampoline park with my friends to spend some quality time.
People in good physical condition keep fitness exciting. They change their routines before they become boring and corny.
It makes exercising fun, so you don’t feel like it’s a hassle. My brother, who loves to lift weights, took a break from weight training to get punched in the face by a friend in kickboxing class.
Follow your curiosity and try as many exercises as you like until you find one you like.
5. They always make time
No matter how busy or boring a day, healthy people always find time to exercise. It is their medicine that keeps them feeling better.
They are addicted to the elation they get after a good training session. I also realized that I need to exercise the most when I don’t feel like exercising.
Over the years, they’ve developed sustainable habits that keep them on track in even the toughest of circumstances.
They always choose to be active and do the little things they need to do every day to become healthier.
People in good physical condition choose their daily fitness by staying more active. They take care of themselves first and foremost.
They make fitness easy by taking the stairs, parking the car a little further away, and choosing apples instead of cookies.
These small daily decisions add up to create a healthy and fit body.
Khyati Jain is an editor and writer with expertise in health, fitness, lifestyle and mental health.
This article was originally published at: Moderate. Reprinted with permission of the author.
