My biggest fans after cheering me on during the Charlotte Half Marathon in November 2018.
Hi there and happy mid-January! By now some of you are probably noticing some positive effects of eating healthier and getting to the gym this month (if that was one of your resolutions). Others of you might be realizing that fitting a workout into your already busy schedule can be a lot harder than you thought, and are wondering if it's realistic long term. YES. YES IT IS. YOU CAN DO IT!! Today I am going to share with you some tips for how I motivate myself to get to the gym. You've got this!
1. Buy a Fitbit/Garmin/Apple Watch- This one has been a game changer for me. I got my first Fitbit in 2014 and have been obsessed with them ever since. I even had an Apple Watch for a short period of time but stopped wearing it because I preferred my Fitbit that much more. There are a variety to choose from, so you can find the one that best fits your needs/budget. The biggest reason I preferred this to the Apple Watch? The sense of community. A LARGE number of my friends and coworkers have Fitbits, at the time I had an Apple Watch, nobody I knew had one. I love that you can do a variety of challenges with your friends that are both FUN and KEEP YOU ACCOUNTABLE. I promise you, someone you know has a Fitbit and would love to enter a challenge with you. And if not, I'd love to enter a challenge with you 😀. I have a girlfriend who swears by her Garmin though, and some people love their Apple Watches (holy cow-- those things are expensive compared to the other two).
2. Sign Up for Something- I was telling a few friends who wanted to get started running that it has been so helpful for me to stay motivated by signing up for and paying for a race. If I know I have signed up to do something and have invested a little bit of money into it, I'm a lot more likely to do it and do it well. Start by finding a 5k nearby, or a class you'd like to take at your local gym. You can easily Google races/activities/classes near where you live. Find a friend to do it with you and hopefully by both of you investing, you can help keep each other accountable.
3. Never Miss a Monday Workout-- if you start your week right, you are much more likely to continue that path. I have noticed that if I skip workouts in the beginning of the week, I am likely to consider the entire week a wash and "start again next week". That can easily become a bad habit.
4. Go First Thing in the Morning- I cannot tell you how many times I have intended to go to the gym later in the day but something has come up. I have found that I am much more likely to go if I go first thing in the morning before work. Yes, this means waking up at 4:30 in the morning in order to be dressed and at the gym by 5, but I have honestly found that I am more energetic on those days because I started my day with a workout (I also sleep like a rock on the nights I do this too!). Hopefully you don't have to be at work super early like I do and can sleep in a little more!
5. If You ARE Going After Work, Pack EVERYTHING In Your Bag, Including Snacks-- I can't tell you how many times I was supposed to go to the gym after work but didn't because I was hungry and tired (probably from being hungry). Now I always keep my gym bag prepped and ready to go with a couple cliff bars/mixed nuts/dried fruit packages thrown inside. If I don't have to pack a bag or worry about being hungry, it's one less obstacle.
6. Dress for Success-- I hate it when I get to the gym and the clothes I'm trying to workout in are too restrictive/don't fit/are rubbing in all the wrong places. If you are comfortable and confident, you are more likely to have a successful workout. I did a whole post about running and what I wear to run, but other times I'll typically wear something like this:
Top/Bra/Pants/Shoes
(that top is 50% off right now!)
Most of my workout clothes are from Target or Old Navy, with something else thrown in there on occasion.
7. Find a Workout So Fun, It Doesn't Feel Like "Working" Out-- I am always changing up my exercise routine because I get bored. Over the years I have done Zumba, cardio dance classes, cycling, running, weight lifting, BBG, 21 Day Fix, yoga, Pilates, swimming... you name it, I've tried it. There is something out there for everyone, and once you find what you enjoy, you will start looking forward to going. Especially once you start getting really good at it! I loved when I did my weight lifting program because I could see how much stronger I was getting. I had been the girl who couldn't even bench press the bar, but within a few months I was able to put 5-10 pounds of weights on the ends! As I continued with that program I was shocked to see how strong I could be, both physically and mentally... because fighting your inner "I'll never be able to do that" is half the battle, right?
8. On the Days You're Really Not Feeling It, Challenge Yourself to Do Just a Little Bit-- On the days I am really not in the mood to workout, I'll tell myself "Okay, just take Lily Grace and Tucker for a walk" and 9 times out of 10 end up walking much further than I set out to. Just getting up and getting moving is usually all it takes to change your mind. Give it a try!
If any of you have any tips that aren't in this post, PLEASE leave a comment below, I'm always open to new ideas.
These are all great tips! Finding a workout I love is such a huge deal for me. I cannot be 15 minutes in and thinking of nothing but how much I want to be done. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI agree! It's so helpful when it's something you WANT to be doing. There's something out there for everybody, it's just a matter of finding it!
DeleteI love all of your tips. I agree about the Monday thing too. I find starting my week off on a good foot as far as working out it goes so much better!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how easily I can justify not working out if I start the week on the wrong foot. 😉
DeleteI think it's definitely important to find a workout that you enjoy and that gives the sort of results you need. I don't want to burn calories so much as I want to be stronger--I found pilates years ago, it helps me to not have back pain from my scoliosis and being pain-free is a good motivation in deed! Besides, I genuinely enjoy pilates! My hsuband is a runner...now that's something I don't enjoy at all! He has a XiaoMi GPS watch and I think he's a little bit addicted to tracking his runs. He coaches track, which I think it also a good motivation for him to stay in shape!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, so happy to hear that!
DeleteYou nailed it with these tips!! I agree with every single one. I have got to work out first thing in the morning, or it doesn't happen. I just got a new Fitbit again, after having a Samsung smart watch(that I did like). The camaraderie with your Fitbit friends is just so motivating! However, I feel like I need to unfriend my aunt who does marathons, because I will neverrrr catch up to her, haha.
ReplyDelete-Kristen // www.pugsandpearls.com
Hahaha I totally see that! I have a bunch of other girlfriends who arw runners and if I'm not currently training for a race I have NO chance of catching up to them!
DeleteHey I hope you are maintaining your body perfectly through workout. But for this coronavirus situation if you are feeling afraid then you should go with functional training workouts because with this you can get the best training through online platform.
ReplyDelete