How To Get Started And Stay Motivated For Your Workouts.
Often the hardest part of working out is getting started. But the good news is that once you get into a routine it becomes much easier. Once you’ve got into a routine the next challenge is staying motivated to workout.
Below are some helpful tips and tricks to help you get started and keep you motivated to achieve your fitness goals.
Change Your Perspective
In order to do anything new in your life, you first need to change your perspective. Start thinking fit. Don’t focus on how hard it’s going to be, focus on how great you’re going to feel and look. Make an effort to be more active in general. Instead of taking the elevator, walk up the stairs, instead of spending your evening binging on Netflix go outside for a walk.
Little changes to your everyday life will help you to achieve your goals faster. Changing your perspective changes your experience of life.
‘’The moment you change your perception, is the moment you rewrite the chemistry of your body’’ - Dr. Bruce Lipton
Do Your Research
Before you first start working out you need to think about the type of workouts you’d like to do. There are so many different ways to workout including going to the gym, doing workout videos at home, resistance training, running, walking, yoga and more.
It’s also important to find a workout routine that you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy it, it’s unlikely that you'll stick to it.
Remember that everyone is different, too. Just because your friend runs 5K everyday doesn’t mean you have to. Spend some time online looking at different workout ideas, find one you’d like to try and give it a go.
You may have to try several different things before you find something that works for you, but that’s all part of the process.
If you’re stuck for inspiration, check out my exercise programs and my customizable workout app here.
Set Goals
Having a goal is incredibly important if you truly want to succeed. Spend time thinking about what it is you’re trying to achieve. Is your aim to lose weight, tone your body or improve your general fitness?
Also, think about your why. Why are you doing this? Once you know your why you can set realistic goals to give you something to work towards.
Your goals should be personalized to you and your needs. There are three things you need to consider when setting goals:
- Be specific
- Set a timeframe
- Make them measurable
Be Specific
By being really specific with your goal, you will be more focused as you know exactly what it is you’re trying to achieve.
Set a Timeframe
Having a timeframe gives you a deadline for achieving that goal. Without a deadline, you could go on forever trying to achieve something but never quite making it to the end goal.
Make Your goals Measurable
Lastly, you need to make your goals measurable, meaning you have an exact way of knowing you have achieved that goal. This is easy for goals like weight loss. For example your goal might be ‘I will lose 10 pounds in 12 weeks'. That is easily measurable as you can weigh yourself at the end of the 12 weeks to see if you have achieved your goal
Make A Plan
Once you’re set on how you're going to workout and you have your goals the next thing is to plan your workouts. Planning your workouts in advance means you don’t waste time during your workout time and can get the most out of it.
You can either create weekly or monthly plans. Remember to write your plan down so you can refer back to it later. A plan that is written down is much easier to stick to as it’s right there in black and white.
‘’A goal without a plan is just a wish’’ Antoine De Saint-Exupery
How To Stay Motivated to Work Out
Here are my top tips for staying motivated to workout:
Focus On Fun
If you want to stick to your workouts you need to make them fun. If you’re dreading doing it then you’ll be less motivated to workout. That’s why it’s important to find workouts that you enjoy.
If you find yourself in an exercise rut, switch it up and try something new. Make each day different by completing a different workout every day that you train. Exercise doesn't have to be boring and the more fun you make it the more likely you will continue with it.
Get An Accountability Partner
Working out with friends not only makes the whole experience more enjoyable, you can also help to keep each other motivated. Even if you don’t actually work out together, share your goals with each other and report back regularly on your progress. They can help you to stay accountable.
Create A Routine
Having a fixed routine helps you to stay on track with your workouts. If you prefer to exercise in the morning, put time aside every morning to do it. If you prefer working out after work, do that.
There is no right or wrong time to exercise, but having a set routine that suits your lifestyle ensures you stay on track.
If you plan to exercise at the end of the day, but constantly find you’re too tired, then switch to morning workouts. Set alarms on your phone or use exercise apps to remind you to do your daily workouts.
Have The Right Equipment & Clothing
Having the right equipment to do the job properly can make or break a workout. Make sure you’re wearing clothing that is suitable for the exercise you plan to do. It’s also helpful to have all of the equipment you need beforehand so you don’t waste your designated exercise time.
Monitor Your Progress
It’s very common for people to start working out and then quickly get frustrated that their body isn’t changing fast enough. Remember it takes time and patience to achieve your goals.
To help keep you motivated, monitor your progress. You can do this by using my app, which you can get here. You can also use tick charts. Every day that you successfully complete a workout, tick it off your chart. This is a great way to visually see your progress and how much effort you’ve put in.
Third, before you begin working out, take a before photo, then every few weeks take another photo to compare. Sometimes it can be hard to see your progress in the mirror, but it’s much easier to see it in photos.
It’s also important to remember that on average it takes 4 weeks before you will start to notice your body changing, so don’t fret if you don’t see immediate results. Working out is a journey and it takes time but it’s completely worth your time and effort.
Make it Happen!
Above all, remember to enjoy this new journey in your life. You have already taken the first step to improving your life by reading this blog, so be proud of that. Now what are you waiting for? Get out there and make things happen!
If you need any help, or would like a customized, online training program, fill out the form here. I'll be glad to help you create a plan and encourage you on your fitness journey.