Erik Ledin earned his certification as a Personal Trainer (CPT) and a Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Additionally, he is also a Certified Kinesiologist from the Ontario Kinesiology Association (OKA), as well as a Certified Sports Nutritionist from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN). Erik Ledin is a regularly attendee of the national conferences for NSCA and ISSN. He enjoys converting his education in body science into real life results and measurable success.

1. 10 tips for achieving
fitness goals
Erik Ledin, LBC

2. The numbers show that approximately 88% of
people who decide to lose weight and get in shape
ultimately give up on their goal.Why is that? And
what can you do to be in the top 12% who make
their fitness dreams a reality?

3. It turns out that the psychology behind setting and
accomplishing fitness goals is pretty simple. Follow
the following tips to stay on track and get the body
you want ASAP.

4. 1. Make Exercise Part
of Your Routine.
Exercise should be a regular part of your
day, not something sporadic. Just as you set
aside time for meals, sleep, kids and
work, set aside time for exercise. Pencil it in
on your calendar, program it into your
smartphone and stick to it just like you
would any other important appointment.
For best results, you may find that
exercising at the same time and on the
same days each week

5. 2. GiveYourself
Permission to Spend
Time on “You.”
This “me” time will not only boost your
health on both physical and emotional
levels, but it will provide an excellent
example for your children on how to
lead a healthy lifestyle. If you’re not
feeling fit and healthy, you won’t be
able to take care of the rest of your
obligations, or your family, so let go of
any feelings of guilt you have about
taking time to workout.

6. 3. Set Realistic Goals
Your fitness program should fit in with your
lifestyle.This means you may head to the
gym three days a week, then spend
weekends out riding bikes with your
family, ice skating, working in your
garden, dancing, or playing sports with
friends. Remember that physical fitness is
not just about how many minutes you log
on the treadmill, it’s a lifestyle that you can
tailor to your unique needs and interests.

7. 4. Hire a Personal
Trainer
The beauty of having a personal
trainer is not only their expertise in
which exercises you need to get the
best results … it’s the motivation
factor, too.When you set
appointments with a trainer, you
suddenly have someone to hold you
accountable, making it much less likely
that you’ll skip out on your workout at
the last minute.

8. 5. KeepYour Eyes on
the Prize
For those times when motivation is
lacking, remember why you’ve committed
to your exercise program in the first place:
your health. New research shows that
exercise can help you prevent about two-
dozen health conditions, including
cancer, heart disease, type 2
diabetes, stroke, obesity, depression, high
blood pressure and dementia. It can even
slow down your rate of aging.2
Plus, exercise will tone your muscles and
reduce your body fat, helping you to look
great on the outside, and boosting self-
esteem in the process.

9. 6. Make it Convenient
To make exercise as convenient as
possible, pick a gym that is very close to
your home or place of work. If you’re a
morning exerciser, pack your gym bag the
night before so you can grab it and go in the
morning. If you exercise after work, bring
your bag with you to the office so you can
stop at the gym on your way home.Another
great idea if you have the space and budget
is to purchase a few key pieces of exercise
equipment for your own home, such as an
elliptical machine, treadmill, or weight set.

10. 7. Fit inWorkouts Even
onYour “Off” Days
Life is busy, so even with the best
intentions your workouts may
sometimes get sidetracked by
travel, work or kids. Learn to roll
with the punches and on the days
when you don’t have time for a
regular workout, squeeze in some
exercises on the sly.

11. 8. Keep it Fun
You’ll be much more likely to workout if you
enjoy it, so incorporate a wide range of
activities that appeal to your interests. Try
kickboxing or dance aerobics one
day, weight training, Pilates, swimming or
yoga the next.This will not only keep you
from getting bored, it will ensure that you’re
working all of your muscle groups and
getting both cardio as well as strength-
training benefits.

12. 9. RewardYourself
When you’ve stuck with your exercise
plan for a week, a month or more, stop
to give yourself a great big pat on the
back … or treat yourself to a special
treat, like a massage or a new piece of
clothing to show off your new fit
physique.This will keep exercise in a
positive perspective and help you to
keep striving to reach your next
exercise milestone.

13. 10. SupportYour
Exercise HabitsWith a
Healthy Lifestyle
As you become more physically
active, support your newfound healthy
habit by broadening into other positive
habits as well. Eating right, getting
plenty of sleep and keeping your stress
levels to a minimum go hand-in-hand
with exercise, and when combined are
one of the best “prescriptions” for
health and happiness out there.