Fitness with De Fina: How to stay social while getting fit!

Without a doubt, one of the most important things you can do to improve your overall wellbeing is to actually enjoy working out! There are a million fads and gimmicks out there promising “six minute abs” by using equipment that resembles electro-shock therapy for a few minutes a day, but luckily our above-average IQ tells us that small sustainable changes are what it’s all about. So, if you’re looking to add some small or sizable edits to your daily life these top tips will help you out along the way.

Stay positive.
The moment you start keeping a mental tally of pizza nights that you missed out on, or times you went to exercise in the dark, you start building up an imaginary scoreboard for the penances you are paying. A healthy lifestyle is all about living your life to the full, offsetting disease and illness, being fit and active and feeling great about yourself. If you view everything in a positive light you will draw positive people to you and have the best chance of longterm success.

We have complied a list of some key points to take into consideration so you can “have fun while you shape your bum”:

Image sourced via Pinterest

Inform your closest friends you’re embarking on a fitness journey.
Unfortunately you may find that your beer-swigging friends are not always the best source of inspiration and motivation. But at least if they know that you’re embarking on some lifestyle changes it may minimise the ferocity of taunts to slam shots every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

Trick some friends into joining you.
While there’s no doubt that you will create new healthy friendships along the way, starting off with some familiar faces definitely helps.

Do your research.
Make sure that the facility or business you’re engaging with is conducive to building community and an element of fun… “Psycho Pete’s Hardcore Strength Dungeon” may not be the place where you feel like you can have a laugh while working out.

Get involved.
As hard as it may be initially when you find yourself standing around “fitness people” wearing lycra for the first time in a long time, it’s really important you allow yourself to come out of your shell.

This is of course a process, but being the creepy person in the corner doesn’t make you a magnet for friends. Go out on a limb and say hello.

Be yourself.
It may surprise you, but as a lifelong fitness devotee I would be lying if I said I was automatically attracted to the quinoa-loving, green juice swigging, organic coconut water selfie-loving “fitness people” by default.

We all know that you find unique qualities in people and that’s what draws us to them. Don’t feel like you need to have the latest workout gear, or talk about training like a possessed madman just to be accepted by your new fitness friends. The truth is they will be drawn to your dry sense of humour, your quirky views on things or the fact you are a bit of a weird cat lady. Let your guard down a little and you’ll be surprised at how people are drawn to you, for being you.

Image sourced via Pinterest

Enjoy other people’s triumphs.
It’s human nature to perhaps become jealous when you see people succeed at where you yourself may have failed. However, isn’t it also true that what we personally desire most is acceptance, support and recognition when we too achieve our goals?

If you want to facilitate healthy relationships – let go of jealousy and be genuinely happy for other people when they make positive changes and let them know how proud of them you are! In the end, they will be the ones who inspire and support you so that you may in turn inspire and support those who follow. A healthy lifestyle is just one big dumbell-shaped wheel of paying-it-forward.

Plan healthy social activities, invite your new friends
What makes us enjoy socialising with people? Isn’t it a similar sense-of-humor, trust in acceptance and shared experiences?

So why is it that in Hong Kong we automatically relate socialising to a blur of alcohol-fuelled and dessert-laden excess? Surely we can share some awesome experiences with friends and wake up the next day and actually remember them?

There are so many fantastic outdoor activities in Hong Kong, just waiting for you to take advantage of. Go for a hike, cool down with a swim, have a healthy meal and enjoy more uplifting company.