Where did your motivation go?
Today I am reminded that you get out what you put in!
Your alarm goes off at 5:30AM with the promise that you are going to the Gym this morning! You told yourself last night that you were going to start getting up earlier and getting it done. You lay there in the nice comfy bed and think “ohh I’ll be more alive after work, I’ll just go then”. Well you have the day from Hell and you think I can’t possibly go to the Gym now, I am too exhausted, I’ll start tomorrow! IS THIS YOU?
Ok- Maybe you’re a morning person and maybe you are not! But where did the motivation go from the first promise to yourself?
Did you know that it is recommended to do 150 Minutes of moderate or vigorous Physical Activity each week? Honestly right now, can you say that you are on track for that? More than half of us fall short on this.
So, I want to share a few Tips with you that might help you actually get your butt to the gym and keep your promises to yourself.
1) Find a Gym buddy that is dedicated to a routine and won’t let you slip up.
If you have a friend that goes to the gym daily, then maybe you need to catch a ride with them!
2) Attend a Group Fitness class.
Step out of your comfort zone and jump into a class! Everyone in the class started somewhere and when you have a group of you working towards the same challenges it is motivating! You may also learn a few things.
3) Use a circuit of exercise machines.
Start by getting comfortable with using equipment by starting with a circuit of equipment. Did you know that Ladies Only Fitness has a full circuit and you get a Personal Trainer to show you how to use it for no additional cost!
4) Hire a Personal Trainer.
This I am very passionate about obviously. Why? Well first because I am a Personal Trainer, but most importantly because when I develop a program for someone I want to know that it is working, and they are motivated! I can’t even begin to tell you how often I get girls just starting out and I give them a program to follow and show them how to do all the exercises and instantly they feel more comfortable in the gym and using the Equipment. (I hate when girls just do Cardio, I will be 100% blunt and honest about that)
5) Follow your favorite fitness junkies on Instagram or Facebook.
Seeing those posts everyday help you keep your head in the game!
6) STOP thinking about Cardio when you enter the gym!
As you can see I am very pushy about this because honestly this is almost 100% the reason why people stop going to the gym! I know I have touched on this before, but I feel like it needs to be told time and time again.
I see it over and over, ladies show up and are excited to start exercising! Yes exercising, but what does that mean to you? We all know that exercising by definition is “activity requiring physical effort to sustain or maintain health”.
Maybe Cardio is what you love, and you know what that is totally fine. But you should be working more muscles than just your heart. As people age our body tends to lose muscle and muscle function. That leads to more injuries and disabilities. By adding strength training or “weight lifting” to your everyday lifestyle it will help you reduce muscle loss as you age but it also helps build bone density when your younger, so it helps prevent osteoporosis later in life. Lack of physical activity is the primary cause of chronic disease. Honestly just those things alone would make me want to exercise daily!
I know sometimes finding the motivation is hard, but you have to keep thinking bigger picture. If you go you will gain extra energy, you will feel happier, help you burn off a few extra pounds, healthier skin, reduce pain, better brain and memory function, and you Sleep better! If you don’t go, your body won’t change and like I mentioned wouldn’t it be worth it just so you didn’t have to worry as much as you age?
Find the motivation that works for you! Try them all! Take care of yourself now, stop making excuses <3
Photo Credit to @RozalindBoudoir
