Everyone would love to lose weight and get into better shape, but it’s not always as easy as it sounds. It takes a combination of the right state of mind, the right weight loss program, and the right discipline.
Entrepreneurs and business owners are some of the most dedicated individuals, and they know that hard work and persistence pays off in the end. A group of business owners was recently asked, “What is your best tip for someone looking to start exercising daily in an effort to lose weight?” Use their responses below as a source of inspiration to kick-off your weight-loss journey.
Make small lifestyle changes.
“Make small incremental changes to your lifestyle. You’ve got years of bad habits to overcome, so setting up small goals and achieving them consistently will give you the momentum you need to keep going to larger more aggressive ones. Take the time to write down your goals every day to keep you on track.” — Joseph W. Belluck of Belluck & Fox, LLP
Be ready for a battle.
“Be prepared for a long uphill battle. It is not easy and there are going to be days that you want to give up. If you skip a day or cheat on your diet the only person you are hurting is yourself. You have to want it and be 100% committed. If you aren’t then there is no sense in starting.” — Christopher Dziak, CEO of Pure Nootropics
Put your head down and work.
“Get to work. Look, getting started at anything one has been putting off, or not really into doing — is hard. The only way to overcome that is to jump into it. The first week, month, etc. is the hardest — might as well get to it now.” — Shawn Schulze of HomeArea.com
Adjust your eating habits.
“Exercise helps keep you healthy. Adjusting how you eat helps you lose weight. Be sure to focus on both food and exercise when trying to lose weight. Don’t set an end date and make sure the changes you are making are small lifestyle changes that are likely to stick with you long term.” — Matthew Kolb of All High Schools
Don’t forget the diet.
“You need to combine exercise with a healthy diet. They two go hand in hand, and without the other you will never see much success. You can work out every day for an hour but if you are eating junk food you will not see improvements. Diet along with exercise is the key to weight loss.” — Ari Evans of AAA Handbags
Make it a daily habit.
“Do it first thing in the morning and make sure you do it for three weeks straight to start out. You will have a hard time making it a routine part of your life if you don’t do it for three weeks in a row.” — Ben Walker, Founder of Transcription Outsourcing, LLC
Hire a professional trainer to get your started correctly.
“Hiring a personal trainer in the beginning is good because it will hold you accountable, but even more importantly it will help you put together a routine that works specifically for you. The investment is worth getting a custom program designed for your goals.” — April Gillmore, CEO of ClickFirst Marketing
Don’t quite before results are seen.
“Don’t quit before you experience results. It can take several weeks before you even start to notice a change, which is why so many quit. You have to be willing and ready to fully commit to a healthy lifestyle. Once you do see results it becomes addicting and you become self-motivated.” — Andrew Tran, Founder of Therapy
Stick with your goals.
“Create a goal and stick with it until you are there. Don’t knock yourself if you make a mistake or cheat. Just make up for it the next day and make getting to your goal the only thing that matters to you.” — Marc Webb, Founder of Real PDL Help
Start small.
“Commit to doing something small, such as 10 minutes of cardio in the morning with a light jog around your neighborhood or anywhere you can. Schedule it and ensure it’s part of your routine, so it becomes a habit, then you can extend the time and begin to incorporate other aspects.“ — Sean Christman, Founder of Slamdot
Team up with a friend.
“Find an accountability buddy. When you do this with someone else and are able to hold each other accountable and motivate each other the results will be much better. The adjustments needed in order to see results are extreme, and you will often need that extra motivation.” — Jim Epton of Dom Huga Ltd
Identify things you love doing.
“Find things you enjoy, find people you enjoy doing them with and of course, do it. I love boxing so I invested in a company that could offer the opportunity. Incorporate these things into your day to day and make it part of your lifestyle.” — Shawn Freeman, Founder and CEO of TWT Group
Have a plan.
“Have a plan, because just showing up to the gym and doing random exercises or eating without a plan just won’t deliver the kind of results you are probably hoping for. You should try to map out your workout and meals in advance. This allows you to stay on a focused path.” — Tom Munroe, CEO of RugStudio