Working out regularly is not easy. Everybody’s busy, you’ve got a million things you “should be” doing, and probably a million other things you’d rather be doing than spending time at the gym. But no one ever said the road to flat abs, toned arms and great legs was going to be a walk in the park.
If you already eat healthy, good for you, that’s half the battle. But, the other half of feeling and being healthy is… you guessed it, exercising.
Here are some tips to help you get started if you’re not currently on an exercise regimen, or stay motivated if you’re already on the fitness train:
- Make a commitment to yourself: You should want to look and feel healthy first and foremost for YOURSELF. Make a workout plan that fits your life and schedule, and commit to it. Draw up a contract and sign it if you want. Post it in plain view and tell other people about your commitment (studies have shown that you’ll be less likely to back out if other people know about it).
- Set realistic goals: Make a timeline for yourself if necessary. Though saying you’re going to lose 30 pounds by the end of the week is certainly tenacious, it’s not exactly realistic. Set goals that have more to do with your commitment as a whole, and less with physical results. If you set goals like “I’m going to do 30 minutes of cardio instead of 20 this week” or “I’m going to work on my pushups until I can do 25 straight on my toes”, you’ll see the results. These types of goals help keep you motivated without making you focus on how you haven’t achieved Jennifer Aniston-type legs in a mere 6 weeks.
- Put it on your calendar: Treat working out like anything else that’s important in your life. If you had a lunch date or a doctor’s appointment you’d probably put it on your calendar, right? Well, you need to schedule your workouts the same way. Working out is just as important as most of your other commitments, so treat it that way. Schedule it, tell people about it, stick to it.
- Invest in your health: If you spend $200 on a pair of jeans, you’d be motivated to wear them, right? Well, you don’t have to spend a bunch of money on your workout, BUT, it’s a really good motivator to invest in your health. If you’re anything like me, you live on a budget; but when you find something you really want, you find a way to get it. So, if you can pony up the cash for the premium cable package and that fancy cell phone plan, you can find a way to budget for exercise. Find something you like, whether it’s a fancy gym, a pilates class, or private sessions with that cute trainer, and invest in it. If you’re shelling out the cash and like what you’re buying, you’re more likely to stick with it.
- Enlist a friend: This one’s easy. If you have a friend (or friends) involved, you’ll be less likely to flake out on your workout. Plus, you can work in small rewards like a coffee date after a Saturday morning workout or a new yoga top when you’ve both completed 2 months of classes.
- Ignore the scale: I cannot say this enough: your weight matters a little, IT DOESN’T MATTER A LOT. I don’t own a scale. In fact, I’m weighed only once a year sometimes when I go to the doctor. Being healthy and seeing results comes in the form of a smaller waist size, seeing that your clothes fit differently, and feeling better and more energized throughout the day. Much of the time, these results also take the form of lower numbers on the scale, but don’t get hung up on the fact that you’ve been working out and the number isn’t changing as quickly as you think it should. Focus on how you feel, not what you weigh.
- Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are washboard abs: This is important: results take time. It can take weeks, months, even years to see the changes you’re looking for. What will come earlier is a change in how you feel physically — stronger and healthier. Also, there may be changes happening you’re not aware of — lower blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat… the list goes on.
- Eat to workout, don’t workout to eat: Think of the food you eat as nourishing your body so you can exercise and be healthy. Don’t think of exercise as an excuse to chow down on burgers and pizza nightly. Think of it this way: you prepare yourself on the outside to exercise — workout pants, a supportive top, and comfortable shoes, not a turtleneck, slacks, and pumps; so you should prepare yourself on the inside the same way — fruits, veggies, lean protein and dairy, not high-fat carbs and processed sugars.
- Reward yourself: It’s important when you make a commitment and work hard to reward your efforts occasionally. If you’re staying on the straight and narrow the majority of the time, know that it’s ok to give yourself a night off or a night out. I like to stay motivated by indulging in high-end workout wear (hello lover). I said 6 months of Bar Method at 4 times a week and I could buy the insanely overpriced pants I’d been drooling over. Sounds silly, but it keeps me motivated on those days when I’d rather just head home at 6:30pm, rather than throwing on the spandex for an hour of pain and shaky muscles.
Ok, time to head off to bed. If you’ve got any tips you’d like to share on how you stay motivated in your workout routine, we’d love to hear them!