Aside from cute workout gear, what keeps you going to the gym?
While the benefits of physical activity are plentiful, there are often factors that get in the way of sticking to a workout routine. It can be even more challenging to keep up with your fitness goals when the weather is damp and dreary – making binge watching on Netflix a way more attractive option.
Consistency is key to achieving your goals in the gym. The discipline you build in the gym not only helps your body, but it also helps you progress in other areas of your life too.
1. Know your why
First you must define what you want to get out of your fitness journey and why. Keep it simple. It needs to be that thing that gets you out of bed when everything else is saying to take a nap. Your reason for embarking on your fitness journey will, ideally, be the reason you keep going.
You will want to create a realistic goal for yourself. This part is totally subjective and should be defined by YOU. Ask yourself, what does #bodygoals mean to me? Personally, I believe we should favor being our own body goals before we subscribe to the images or beliefs of other peoples bodies. Your body goals can look like successfully running a marathon in your city or getting the definition in your core that you’ve always wanted. Define your goal and be clear on your reason.
2. Make a routine that’s easy to stick to
Now this tip is in direct response to the “life gets in the way” or “my schedule has been busy lately” comments that we all often toss around. You have to go from seeing the gym (or whatever workout activity you do) as something you do every once in a while to an integral part of your lifestyle. It is important to create a schedule for yourself that includes and prioritizes working out.
You have to be honest about what a realistic workout schedule will look like. Make a plan where you commit to being active a certain amount of hours per week. I talk a lot about making SMART financial goals in this blog post here and the same concepts apply. Using our marathon example, if you want to compete in the half marathon that takes place this November, think about what is involved to get you ready for that date.
Ask yourself: how many hours per day would I need to train? How many days per week? What should my caloric intake be? What time of day works best for me to train? Do I have access to indoor or outdoor training environments?
Think about what you need to achieve your goal and create a lifestyle that favors these factors. The more exercise feels embedded into your day to day the less barriers you will have to staying consistent.
3. Do an activity you like
I don’t love strength training, but I like it enough to do it 4 times a week. It’s ok if you don’t love working out. It is important to find an activity you like enough to do repeatedly.
If your workout feels like an annoying task you will be less likely to stick with it. This is not to say that you can’t get bored at times or frustrated with your workouts. When that arises, I like to incorporate other workout types into my schedule for as long as I need to. Spice things up with a dance class or try something completely new like rock climbing. Ultimately, what you really don’t want to do is stop working out altogether.
I get it, life happens. On the weeks that life is happening a little too hard trade in your structured workout for something more low impact. Just keep your momentum by doing things you like.
4. Track your progress
One of the best ways to track your progress is by taking pictures! Take those selfies before you head out or in your gym bathroom mirror. Let your photos serve as a motivation and a reminder of how far you’ve come.
Another cool thing you can do is record yourself doing your workout. This can help you identify the areas you need to work on. It is advantageous for you to see the progress in your form, endurance and speed over time.
If you are hoping to achieve a specific weight or body composition goal you can track your progress through fitness apps. I like to use MyFitnessPal so that I can track my eating throughout the day. I like to ensure that I am eating meals that are protein rich and nutrient dense.
Live abundantly,
Bethany
