Picture this scene: You've committed yourself to a new fitness program, and everything is hunky-dory for the first couple of months. You are up early every day and hit the gym or the park to sweat out those calories. Boy! Does this feel good!
After three months: Suddenly, you can't drag yourself out of bed to complete the day's workout. You are slowly trying to find lame excuses to skip your fitness regimen. And finally, you give it all up! If you can relate to this, welcome to the club. The inner couch potato has claimed yet another victim!
Staying Motivated To Work Out: The Big Challenge
Every year, millions of people make New Year resolutions or take vows to get their fitness back on track. Unfortunately, more than half of them end up quitting before achieving their fitness goals. People cite a dozen reasons for quitting their daily workouts, from location inconvenience and injuries to lack of motivation and interest.
After all, we aren't talking about running a marathon or preparing for the Olympics. We are only talking about a 30 or 50-minute workout that suits your body, and that too, only thrice a week.
We can hear you say," Easier said than done." Don't lose heart. We are dishing out some easy and effective tips to stay motivated in your fitness journey for life! Let's go!
8 Ways To Keep Moving Without Quitting
1. Set simple, reasonable goals
Before taking the plunge, write down the fitness goals you have in mind, and ensure they are specific, realistic, and achievable. Many people make the mistake of wanting to achieve impossible goals within a short time frame. Such far-fetched goals will frustrate you physically and emotionally, making you give up halfway. To avoid this mistake, you can:
- Create an achievable target and timeline
- Tack the list in a visible place
- Include short-term and long-term goals
- Tick off goals as you achieve them
2. Start small but aim big
If you are exercising for the very first time or after a long gap, it is wise to take things slow. Commencing an exercise routine after a while can be very challenging, especially if you've been a sedentary person. Therefore it is crucial to start with beginner's exercises and make gradual progress. The ultimate or "big" aim here is to make this routine a part of your everyday life. The trick is to start slowly, increase your fitness levels, and take rest to prevent injuries.
3. Do it every day
Lack of time is the most common reason given by people who quit exercising. You can find fun ways to slip physical activity into your daily life rather than following a monotonous fitness regime. We can give you more than half a dozen simple ideas like:
- Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
- Parking far away and walking to your destination
- Walking up and down the sidelines while supervising kids
- Walking your pet dog every day
- Standing while attending phone calls
- Pedalling a stationary bike or walking the treadmill when watching TV
- Doing strength training exercises during lunch breaks
- Alternating your gym routine with a run on the beach
4. Make it fun
The term "working out" is not restricted to running, aerobics, cardio, and strength training. Being active and on the move takes you one step closer to a healthy lifestyle. Change your routine if you find it boring. Mix it up. Give Zumba a try, join swimming classes, or take up volleyball or badminton. There are more exciting prospects like martial arts, dance classes, kickboxing, and so on. The cardinal rule is to have fun which will make you look forward to your next workout session.
5. Give yourself a break
Listen to your body and take a break if you need one. It's okay to go a couple of days without working out. Your body will use this time to heal, repair, and rejuvenate itself. You will miss a day or two or even a week in your fitness journey. Do not let these setbacks derail you, and don't use them as an excuse for giving up. The important thing is to get back on track as soon as you can.
6. Identify your fitness tribe
One of the best ways to stay motivated is to find like-minded people who share your fitness goals and enthusiasm. Such people can fuel your motivation and inspire you to stay on track. Find a fitness tribe that will shower you with words of encouragement when you feel like it's impossible. Money can get you into a good fitness program, but finding such inspirational people is entirely up to you.
7. Remind yourself why
Every time you feel like skipping the run or giving an excuse, remind yourself why you chose to workout in the first place. Ask yourself if it is worth giving up all your hard work. Take a look at your goals and the targets you've achieved and compare your fitness and stamina levels. These little details will help you hold on to your fitness journey. You can also derive inspiration by comparing your older pictures with the new you.
8. Pat yourself on the back
Spend a few moments after each exercise session savouring how good it makes you feel. This is an internal reward that strengthens your long-term commitment. To reward yourself externally, you can:
- Have a long-desired smoothie
- Indulge in a good meal
- Buy yourself a new pair of workout shoes
- Post your achievements on social media
- Take your friends for a treat
Gradually, your brain begins to associate sweat and pain with the endorphin rush, creating intrinsic motivation. The ultimate goal is to make your brain recognize that working out is the real reward.
Stop Quitting, Keep Moving!
"Once you are exercising regularly, the hardest thing is to stop it," said the American actress Erin Gray. So, the next time you feel like ditching your workout, implement our motivational hacks. To avoid fitness slumps, you can also seek the guidance of professionals to help you stay on track.
At GET Fit 360, Chennai, we offer weight loss programmes based on scientific research to suit your fitness requirements. Our holistic weight loss approach is a clever combination of dieting, exercise and lifestyle counselling that works to your advantage. Interested in knowing more? Give us a call today!