(ThyBlackMan.com) Fitness doesn’t just happen. It’s rarely ever an accident. People who tend to be healthier and fitter than others take particular, and deliberate, steps to ensure that, overall, they live a more ideal and beneficial lifestyle.
Here are the top 5 things that most fit people have in common:
They Sleep Well and Wake Up Naturally
Many fit people arise without an alarm clock feeling energized, rested and hungry. They have set fitness goals and a plan to achieve them. People who are 
fit fall asleep easier, have more quality sleep and require less sleep than someone who is unfit. Lack of sleep is strongly associated with obesity. Sleeping helps the body repair, rebuild and recover.
They Prepare
Fit people pack their gym bags the night before, have clothes laid out for exercise, toiletries packed for a shower, clothes for work and an appointment in their planner for physical activity. They regard their workout appointments as highly as any other business or social commitment.
They Plan Meals
People who are fit and lean have set eating times, plan their meals around their workouts and know what they are going to eat and when. Initially it takes a little work to figure out healthy meals and snacks, but they do not leave eating to chance. Finding yourself headed to the buffet or driving through for fast food in a famished state is a formula for disaster.
They Exercise in the Morning
Morning exercisers have the highest compliance rates and are more likely to stick to their program. As the day passes, they have a feeling of accomplishment and pride which is reflected in their food choices, behavior and stress management. Morning exercise is the best way to start your day and ultimately influence many other positive decisions throughout your day.
They Move On
Fit people do not let one missed workout turn into two or three. They get right back to their next workout and use the added rest to work even harder. They also don’t let one slice of pizza or cake derail their efforts. They move on to the next healthy meal knowing they exercise, sleep and eat well so they can have the occasional indulgence or missed workout without it affecting them negatively.
They Make Lasting Lifestyle Changes
Fit people have become fit over time, not overnight. They empower themselves with information about fitness and eating, and adopt one new healthy habit at a time until it’s no longer something they work on, but instead something that is part of their daily routine.
They’re More Positive
People who are fit use positive self-talk. They don’t beat themselves up with negative sayings such as “I am fat,” or “I am lazy.” Instead, they say “I am strong,” “I am powerful,” “I nourish my body” and “I am thankful to be moving my body.”
They Set and Accomplish Goals
Fit people have a realistic goal in mind when they train. For some, it’s being a certain size or having a particular waste measurement. For others, it’s competing in an event or fundraiser that is near to their heart, like walking for breast cancer or cycling for leukemia. When one goal is accomplished, another is set and there is a deliberate plan to achieve the result.
Now…what are you going to do today to get yourself one step closer to being a fitter person?
Written By Sydney James
