This morning I came across a great article via Inc. titled, “7 Things Highly Productive People Do”. If you have issues with multi-tasking like me, it’s a must read. The article made me think about how behavior modeling can actually change your habits for good.

According to a study published in Health Services Research, when a married person decides to get fit, the spouse is likely to as well. One of the best ways to stay motivated when making a change is to model the behavior of someone who has the attributes that you desire. If you don’t have a spouse who is currently getting fit to model your behavior on, check out these 7 things that fit people do:

1. Fit people keep junk food out of the house. Keeping junk food around the house can tempt you to dig in late at night or between meals. If you have to go out to get the junk food that you are craving, you will be less motivated to give in to your snack attack.

 

2. Fit people stay active no matter what. On days when they feel overwhelmed with work or a little under the weather, fit people find ways to stay active even if they cannot squeeze in a full workout. Fit people go for a walk around the block, they take the stairs, and they get down and pop off 20 pushups first thing in the morning. You can get a great workout in within 10 minutes. The Bikini Butt workout with Anja Garcia on DailyBurn is only 11 minutes, but it will tone all of your major leg muscle groups.

 

3. Fit people indulge every once in a while. Sticking to a strict food plan all the time can be difficult during family holidays and nights out on the town. Fit people don’t emotionally beat themselves up if they grab a cocktail or have a few bites of birthday cake. Indulging in small treats occasionally can prevent yo-yo dieting and inflexible thinking.

 

4. Fit people fuel their bodies with healthy food. They don’t diet. Fit people know that to stay fit, they need to have enough fuel to get through workouts. Dieting can deplete your body of energy, and you are more susceptible to regaining weight after you complete your diet.

 

5. Fit people stick with a regular workout routine. Fit people have a plan. Some prefer to workout 4 days per week before going to work, and some go out for a run during lunchtime. Even though workout routines are individual, the common thread that all fit people share is that they carve out time regularly to workout.

 

6. Fit people stop eating when they are full. Fit people know that they don’t have to eat everything on their plates. Take food home from the restaurant, or set aside dinner leftovers for lunch the next day. Fit people know that savoring the taste of food and eating only until full is the key to managing portions.

 

7. Fit people set goals. Whether it is signing up for a 10k race in the spring or looking great in a bikini over spring break, fit people always have their eyes on the prize. Setting small goals will keep you motivated day in and day out.

 
My fitness role model is Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington. Who are some of your fit role models?