You want to commit to a healthier lifestyle but can’t seem to stay on track. Starting over again and again can be extremely discouraging. You feel like it’s harder and harder to go back after each of your failed attempts to remain consistent. You know that consistency is the key. Consistency is the only way you will actually achieve those results you reluctantly wished each summer that you had at least made an attempt to work for. You’ve become lazy and found every excuse under the sun to not hit the gym.
Here a few tips to help you get and stay on track!
Write your goals down! Are you aiming to lose weight? You’d like to boost your energy or maybe sleep better? Whatever your goals may be, write them down! Writing your goals down should help you feel accountable for achieving them. Put them in a place where you have to see them and are constantly reminded about them. You can also work on keeping a record of what you did during each exercise session, the duration and how you felt afterward. Record your goals and efforts to remind yourself that you are making progress toward achieving them. Remember to make realistic and achievable goals. (Don’t forget, your goals will change over time the stronger and better you feel!) Feel free to update them frequently, but in small increments. If you set a goal to walk for 30 minutes three times a week and find that you feel good after a month of consistently achieving this, shoot for walking an hour three times a week next. Before you know it, you’ll be ready for your first 5Krace.
Keep your music fresh! Who wants to work out in silence? Most gyms have oldies blasting over their speakers. Pick the songs you love, the one’s that get you excited and ready to move! Keep loading those onto your iPod. Get creative with your playlists. Change it up consistently and pick those high energy tracks!
Plan for physical activity to be a regular part of your daily routine! Don’t fall back on excuses. Schedule your workouts as you would any other important activity. This is your health and it is priority. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk up and down sidelines while watching the kids play sports. Pedal a stationary bike or do strength training exercises while you watch TV at night.
Check your gear! When you get new clothes, you’re naturally just in a better mood. Wearing that same old sports bra and boring sweats gets old really fast. Before you know it, those boring clothes have become your reason for skipping out on your workouts Treat yourself to a new piece of fly fitness gear. You’ll find yourself in such great shape before you know it. Next, you’ll be trying on those spandex shorts you swore you’d never wear. You’ll be ‘that girl’ at the gym. And you’ll look amazing in them!
Do these simple things and you will be well on the way to that ideal body you’ve always wanted.
Tracy Springs is a fitness instructor at LA Fitness. Feel free to contact her at [email protected] with any questions or to set up a fitness appointment at the LA Fitness Waukegan facility.
