Banish Excuses: How To Change Your Attitude Towards Working Out
The Right Attitude Brings Motivation
You might be excited before you start your new workout routine, as it is something different, fun and challenging, and thus be motivated to work hard and see results. However, motivation can easily dwindle if you’re repeating the same routines over and over, or if you’re not seeing the results you want right away. IKeep your motivation high and try a few different tricks. For starters, don’t overexert yourself, know yourself and your limits, and only push yourself to go further when you know your body and mind are capable of doing so. By having a fundamental understanding of yourself and your limits, you’re able to start at a doable pace and with appropriate, challenging exercises that will not hurt you or make you convince yourself it is too difficult. Another way to keep your motivation elevated is to celebrate your victories, no matter how monumental they are, as progress is progress after all.
For instance, when you start your training and find you can only run half a mile on the first day, but by the second week you can run a whole mile, celebrate that victory by rewarding yourself with something you want, such as indulging in a craving or doing something that makes you feel good. A protip is to try and not outdo your victory the next day, as losing weight and getting fitter is not a track meet, it’s a marathon and you need to pace yourself so you’ll remain motivated to reach your goals and go beyond them.
Make It Fun!
You don’t need to stick to the same fitness routine to lose weight, in fact, this often can lead to a weight loss plateau. One way to keep your workouts fun and your motivation levels high include making workouts a social event and find ‘fitness buddy’ or friends who have similar fitness goals, such as losing weight or toning up, and hit the gym together! This way you can keep each other motivated and push each other in a healthy way, while also having someone be there to be your personal cheerleader. Other helpful tips to keep yourself motivated include scheduling time for workouts so it becomes part of your daily routine and changing up your workouts by trying different machines at the gym, such as the treadmill, elliptical, or stairs, or start taking classes that the gym offers such as yoga or Zumba. You can also check out what small, boutique gyms have to offer such as boot camps, kickboxing, dance, or pole dance fitness.
Other ways to change up your workout include trying intense forms of workouts such as Crossfit and kettlebell gyms, which usually have supportive communities, or joining a specific fitness club, such as a Nike Run club, or a hiking group for a different way to get physical exercise. Stop living a life that isn’t meeting your true potential simply because you’re comfortable but yet want to become healthier. Don’t cheat yourself from achieving the body you’ve always wanted and becoming a healthier version of yourself simply because you let your excuses become your guiding light. Squash those excuses now and change your attitude, and just watch your journey onto the righteous path of health and wellness.
