We’re still fresh into the New Year of 2017 and hopefully you’ve been sticking to all of your fitness resolutions or maybe you’re still trying to get motivated to improve upon your current fitness level. Whichever the case, keep these three tips in mind as you embark upon a more active lifestyle:

Find Your Motivation
Motivating yourself to exercise is probably one of the most difficult things to master. I do not know many people who love to exercise, and even if they say they do, they are probably referring to the euphoric effect they get after exercise versus the actual act of exercising. Even top-level athletes struggle to find the motivation to practice their skills and push themselves to become more and more physically fit. It is normal to struggle because of a lack of motivation at times. Knowing how to overcome that lack of motivation and start moving is the true test.

Do Not Buy Into “Buying the Magic Pill”
I truly doubt there will ever be a pill that gives you all the benefits of exercise with no negative side effects. It is not good–in fact, unhealthy—to lose 10 lbs. in a month only to put 20 lbs. back on in three months. That is what happens when you go about dieting and exercising with the expectation of a quick fix. There aren’t any quick fixes, but I’m here to tell you that exercise doesn’t have to be hard. Therefore, I urge everyone to stop looking for the “magic pill”! Stop looking for ways to get around exercise, and simply start exercising and maintaining a well-balanced diet. By doing this, you won’t need a magic pill because you will reap more positive weight-loss and health benefits than any pill can provide.

Overcome and Work Through Your Limitations
Over the years, I’ve had clients with the attitude that they are not going to let anything get in their way, but I’ve also had clients who were very nervous about starting an exercise program for fear of injuring themselves. Many people with physical limitations or medical conditions fear that exercise might cause injury that would further restrict their current activity levels. In fact, this may be the main reason why they have been inactive for several years.

Individuals who fear exercise are very exciting to work with as clients because once they start exercising, they invariably feel better and their ability to move and get around in life improves. The more sedentary you are, the less cooperative your joints. It’s kind of like the old tool that sits in your garage for years on end without use: After several years, the tool becomes rusty and difficult to use. Your body works the same way; we’ve all heard the expression “Use it or lose it.” This is so true regarding the human body. The key is to know what to do and what not to do in order to keep your body moving in the” right direction,” free from injury.

Excerpts of this article were taken from the book Rx Fitness for Weight Loss: The Medically Sound Solution to Get Fit and Save Your Life by Julia Karlstad. Julia is the Founder & President of JKFITNESS, LLC. You can find out more about her book at www.juliakarlstad.com.