To Get Fit
The inevitable has occurred – after a few weeks or months of doing the same workout, your fitness routine has started to feel, well, routine. And the less motivated you are, the less likely you will make time to get in a workout. You need to exercise – its part of the healthy lifestyle you are striving to achieve. So, here are small steps you can take to break the workout monotony, shake things up and motivate you to get moving. Follow these five steps for a workout change of pace that will relight your spark for fitness.
GO FOR A GOAL
Maximize your motivation by focusing on achieving a greater goal than just staying slim. Sign up for a road race, triathlon or cycling event and tailor your workouts to that event (see Active.com to find an event near you). Once you have plunked down the entry fee and plugged the race into your schedule, you will have a set deadline for getting in shape. Need an even better reason? Pick an event benefiting your favorite charity or compete in honor of a loved one. Check out programs whose proceeds go to great causes, like Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, the Livestrong Challenge, or the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.
BUDDY UP
It is easy to ignore your own intentions to exercise (after all, how many times have you told yourself “I’ll sleep in today and workout tomorrow”?). But it will be harder to skip the gym if there is someone waiting for you there. Find a friend and create a joint stay-slim plan. The two of you can set a goal (see Go For A Goal, above) and work towards it together. Just remember to be reasonable with one another. Maybe you won’t meet up every single day, but even if it is just every Tuesday, at least you will have that one guaranteed weekly workout locked down.
SWITCH YOUR SCHEDULE
Doing the same cardio and strength-training exercises, at the same time, day in and day out can make any fitness routine feel a bit stale. Switch things up by working out at a different time of day. If you just can’t find motivation to hit the gym in the mornings, adjust your schedule so you can exercise after work instead. Or, if you are more of a night owl, promise yourself a bonus (see Get New Gear, below) if you hit the sack early and exercise in the mornings.
BREAK OLD HABITS
Bust boredom by trying new ways to work up a sweat. Always migrate to the treadmill? Take a walk or run outside. Stuck in a Stairmaster rut? Find a set of actual stairs to bound up. Or check out a new class at your gym – you may think you are not cut out for that calorie-blasting cardio class, but it may be just what you need to increase your fitness interest. You can also pick up a new physically active hobby that is as fun as it is fitness-boosting. Try something super fun like hula-hooping, ballroom dancing, canoeing, or hiking.
GET NEW GEAR
Sick of throwing on the same old shorts, t-shirt and sports bra? Then go shopping! Fresh workout wear can work wonders to get you into the gym. Finding comfy, sleek clothes that flatter your body will make you feel – and look – even better when you are sweating it out. For a fun, flirty fitness style, try cute workout outfits like the workout skirts GymGirl Ultra by SkirtSports paired with a fitness tank top like the Anise Tank by lululemon.
For more inspiring and invigorating workouts, check out these links:
Get your fitness groove on with podcast workouts
Low-cost fitness equipment for your home-gym
Is it time to take a vacation from fitness?
