How To Stay Motivated And Achieve Your Fitness Goals
We all know working out is important because of all the benefits it provides, but that’s not always enough to keep you dedicated to your fitness goals. Maintaining motivation is something everyone struggles with everyday—yes, even those who seem to have succeeded at their goals. From the exhausting demands of daily life to living through a pandemic, it seems there is always something you have to overcome in order to stay on track. This is especially true for moms.
However, that doesn’t mean you should give up hope on making your fitness goals a reality. Instead, you need to come up with a plan that will help support your goals and keep you motivated, no matter what life throws your way. Start with these 3 tips to get you on the right track.
Tip #1: Make a Schedule
Part of the reason so many people lose their motivation to make it to the gym or workout regularly is because it can take a lot of effort to fit it into your schedule. Think about it, the last thing you want to do after a long day is spend the energy convincing yourself that you should hit the gym. Plus, then there’s the whole dilemma of trying to figure out when you actually have time to work out.
Take the effort out of making time for the gym and simply plan ahead. By making the conscious decision to add time for working out into your schedule, you increase the likelihood of sticking to your fitness goals. It’s much easier to simply follow the plan you’ve laid out for yourself.
How to make a schedule you’ll stick to: Purchase a daily planner where you can write in which days you’re going to work out (and what time). You could even go as far as to write out what your workout will consist of—reducing the likelihood that you’ll call it quits early. You could also simply add it to your calendar on your phone and set a reminder for yourself in the morning to ensure you bring your gym bag along.
Tip #2: Find Workouts You Actually Enjoy
One of the most discouraging aspects of working out is being forced to do things you don’t like or want to do. But what most people don’t realize is that fitness can be fun. You’re not limited to just running on the treadmill or lifting weights, there are virtually endless workout options nowadays, and some of them don’t even require you to go to the gym.
If the thought of doing burpees, push-ups, and the stair stepper makes you dread exercising, it’s time to change it up and find a workout that you can enjoy and will help you de-stress after a long day.
How to find the right workout for you: Instead of traditional exercises, try dance-based workouts, kickboxing (make it more intense by using boxing resistance bands), or barre—all of which you could even do from home using a fitness app. Most of these apps have a large variety of workouts to choose from depending on your interests, skill level and the amount of time you want to exercise for. Another sport/workout that is becoming increasingly popular for both sexes is boxing. It is proving to be great for both mental health and for developing strength. You can find boxing reviews – best gloves for heavy bag training that will ensure you have the correct equipment which offers the best amount of protection if you decide to take up this form of exercise or competition.
You can also take your workouts outside by walking around your neighborhood, joining a cycling group, or exploring local hiking trails.
Tip #3: Invest in the Right Gear
For some of us, heading to the gym in clothes we don’t feel comfortable in is a huge mental factor in avoiding the gym. Whether you feel self-conscious in tight-fitting workout tops or awkwardly frumpy in your old t-shirts, your wardrobe could be standing in the way of your fitness mindset. Not only that, but wearing the wrong clothes (or necessary support garments) can interfere with your workouts and potentially even lead to injury.
How to revamp your workout wardrobe: Workout gear doesn’t come cheap. However, there are options for all budgets and you can build your workout wardrobe over time, so don’t be discouraged. There’s also maternity activewear for moms looking to get back to the gym post-baby. Start with a few basics—a few pairs of yoga pants, two or three sports bras, and shirts in breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics.
And don’t forget, you need a pair of high-quality shoes designed specifically for the type of workout you’re going to be doing. For instance, if you’re kickboxing, you need shoes that provide good balance, but if you’re hitting the trails, you’ll need a good pair of hiking shoes for women to provide grip and support your ankles.
Get Back on Track
With these tips, you can set yourself up for success and make the right changes toward a healthier lifestyle. Keep in mind that while sustaining your motivation is critical to achieving your fitness goals, it’s important to also be forgiving and allow yourself to falter here and there. After all, you’re only human. The key is getting back to it afterwards. Traditionally, people have taken courses to gain the qualifications necessary to work in a specific industry, it is now becoming common for people to take personal trainer courses just to have the knowledge of a trainer, this is just one example of many.