Staying motivated enough to reach your fitness goals is not as easy as the gym junkies make out, but these fail-safe fitness tips are sure to help.
1. Break it down
Sure, you may want to compete in a triathlon one day, but in the meantime, you have to crawl before you walk (or run, ride or swim!). Okay, a triathlon may be biting off a bit more than you can chew, but let’s say that, within a year, you’d like to do 100 push-ups and run 10km per day. The simplest way to do this is to set your end goal, then work your way backwards, breaking it down into smaller tasks. An example of this could be:
- Week one: 2 push-ups per day, 200m run per day
- Week two: 4 push-ups per day, 400m run per day
- Then add 2 push-ups per week and 200m per day, until
- Week 52: 104 push-ups per day and 10.4km per day!
2. Book in your workouts
Make an appointment with yourself in a diary or by type a calendar date in your smartphone or any other device. That way, you’ll be reminded to keep your fitness date and, if anything else should come up, you’ll feel a bit ‘guilty’ about choosing not to stick to your goals. Staying fit is a commitment to looking after yourself, so treat it as you would any other medical appointment.
3. Mind how you go
Sometimes it may seem as if you’re heading nowhere, but by keeping a record of your progress, no matter how minor you may think it, you will see progression over time. Whether you use a fancy fitness tracker on your digital device, or just write down your weight on a notepad, every small step adds up.
4. Seek help – if you need it
If you’re not great at motivating yourself to stay on track, it may be time to find a friend who can help you, or maybe go a step further and find a personal trainer. So long as your fitness buddy is strict in monitoring your regimen, you’ll find it difficult to be distracted from your goal. If that doesn’t work, the possibility of losing money is always a good motivator.
5. Pat yourself on the back
The best way to stay on track is to give yourself the odd pat on the back. Be vocal about your progress, don’t be afraid to tell your friends how you’re tracking – good or bad. Having the support of good people behind you is a sure-fire way to motivate yourself.
6. Choose activities that inspire you
If you’re not a fan of the water, then maybe swimming isn’t your thing. If you don’t like running, then why not just walk hard? If you can’t work up a sweat while walking then pop on your favourite music and dance by yourself, or try shadow-boxing (the latter can be quite cathartic). Choosing fitness activities that you actually enjoy will make it easier to stay motivated and have you on the way to a fitter you.
Do you have any fitness tips for our members?
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