10 Healthy Tips for Fitness Success
We all know the importance of physical fitness but, sometimes, it can seem like such a daunting task. Following the same routine day after day can make you feel stagnant and unmotivated while trying to lose weight. How do you stay motivated when your workout gets monotonous and without a break? Here are ten great ways to keep your workouts exciting — one for every day of the month!
1. Switch up your workout routine every month or so; choose something new! You're bound to find a new way of doing things that will surprise yourself with its change in routine: try running with weights if you usually walk on treadmills or use an elliptical instead. The key here is to find new ways to keep your body moving.
2. Avoid the scale — too many people get discouraged when they see that number going up instead of down or even staying the same. There are many other ways to judge your weight and how healthy you are other than looking at a number on a scale. Your clothing, for instance, can tell you if you're losing weight or gaining muscle mass and show whether you're progressing in your workout goals! You can also use weights this way — instead of comparing yourself to a friend, compare yourself to how much stronger/fitter you were last month when using the same amount of weight.
3. Schedule your workouts — write down the exercises and/or activities that you need to do: how long you need to do them, how many times a week you'll do it and how much weight/how heavy the load should be. This way, you can see what you've done for the week and whether or not you're on track or need to make any adjustments. Then, once a week (or more often if necessary), check in with yourself by reading your schedule again and seeing how much of it you've accomplished.
4. Have a daily routine — this might sound weird, but it can open up some new opportunities when you're trying to stay in the moment. A good example is when you wake up feeling great and spend the day following your daily schedule of exercises. This way, you don't get burnt out by something that should be easy — it's just a matter of being intentional about what needs to get done each day!
5. Do something new every week — try grouping certain weeks together (my favorite way to do this is to put all three workouts in one week). For example, if you have a Crossfit Monday, Tuesday, Thursday schedule for the first three weeks of the month, try switching it up by doing a yoga class on Wednesday and Friday of week four. The next week, do three days of Crossfit and two days of yoga. This way, you don't stick to the same workout routine for too long.
6. Listen to music — for some people, listening to music can make exercises seem easier while also making them more fun. Plus, you get a chance to jam out to your favorite tunes every once in a while! If you're not sure what kinds of music will keep you motivated or energized during your workouts and the time that goes with it (i.e. driving, packing your gym bag, showering, etc.), try finding a favorite tune and matching it with every part of your day. The right song will give you the motivation to exercise and find a way for you to love that process.
7. Sleep well — this is important because we all know how much healthy sleep affects our overall health and energy levels! If you're not sleeping enough hours per night or are getting poor quality sleep, then you're bound to feel sluggish during the day and unmotivated to do anything but watch television or lay around in bed. Try to keep a consistent sleep schedule of seven to nine hours per night. An easy way to do this is to go to bed at around the same time each night and wake up at about the same time every morning.
8. Drink water — staying hydrated is important for long term health because it helps flush out toxins and keeps your skin looking great! It's also essential for full function of muscles, organs and tissues throughout your body, including your heart! The only problem with this tip is that people often forget how much they're supposed to drink in a day (i.e. 64 ounces of water). Our bodies are made to be hydrated, so try drinking more water throughout the day and in smaller amounts: try starting with 8 ounces every hour or as needed, then slowly work up to 16 ounces a day.
9. Follow a nutrition plan — it's easy to get caught up in the paranoia of what you eat (i.e. "I'll die if I don't eat this!"), but this is a quick and easy way to set yourself up for failure. Instead, try focusing on the long term by slowly choosing healthier foods that will help your body recover after a tough workout. For instance, if you're looking to lose weight, start eating small meals a few times throughout the day instead of big ones all at once. It might not seem like much in the moment, but it will make a difference in the long run!
10. Give yourself a break from exercise — don't feel guilty about taking time off every now and then! Yes, you should make sure to push yourself and do things that you normally wouldn't do (i.e. hiking), but sometimes taking things easy is just as important as challenging yourself physically and mentally. You may find that the reason you plateaued on your goals is because you have become too dependent on your workouts. Remind yourself that these are temporary guidelines: just like a diet, they will change over time and should be tweaked as needed to keep up with them!
It's important to realize that they're only guidelines and next month can't possibly look exactly like this month or past ones have. But the most important things are consistency and determination — if you want your goals to work, you need to be committed!
Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/184613-how-to-be-more-motivated/
Tips For Getting Motivated For Workouts 1.) Start With A Goal. If you want to switch lifestyles, you're going to have to start somewhere. It's probably easier if you decide what it is you want to happen before you decide if it's just going to be something that comes and goes or a trend that lasts for years. It will give an idea as to the level of commitment necessary in order for things to change for the better.
2.) Build The Habit First.
Conclusion
If you want to get the body you've always wanted, it's going to take a bit of work. Our recommendation is to start small and build up slowly. There are no shortcuts, and you're not going to be able to get into great shape overnight. It takes time and dedication. You can either spend years pursuing a goal that you know will never last or start out small with one that has the potential of adding some great changes to your life in the long run.
Source: http://www.livestrong.