It is possible to fall in love with your workout routine. Seriously. Say it with me. It is possible to fall in love with your workout routine.
And if you don’t believe me, I’m here to inspire you to find the routine that makes you a believer. Here are 4 tips to help you discover a workout routine you actually look forward to, and that you will actually stick to. Let’s dive in!
Start Small
I was in college the first time I committed to a consistent workout routine. Probably because it was the first time I had access to a nice gym (through the campus rec. center) and for me, that was motivating. I went two days a week, Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. It worked well with my class schedule and it was something I could commit to.
I tell you this because I know some readers will be starting from ground zero. Or maybe you’ve worked out in the past but never consistently. If this is you, jumping into a 5-day-a-week routine will be too big of a shock. To your body. And to your schedule. So, start small. Pick two or three days a week to carve out 30 minutes in the morning, over lunch, or after the kids are in bed. You can always increase the duration or frequency later, but it’s important you don’t burn out before even giving yourself a chance to get started!
When picking your workout schedule Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday/Friday might initially come to mind. However, the weekends are a great time to workout as well. Typically, our schedules are more flexible on the weekends and might allow for longer workouts. Maybe you do two shorter workouts during the week and a longer workout on the weekend when you have more time. Take a good hard look at your schedule and see what is the most feasible for you.
And before you say you absolutely do not have 20 minutes to carve out during the week to workout, think again. Look at how much time you spend on your phone every day. You have 20 minutes, so no excuses on this one!
Variety is the Spice of Life!
Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore.
When it comes to working out today, the possibilities are virtually endless! Group exercise classes are BOOMING. From spin classes, Barre classes, hot yoga, bootcamps and CrossFit, there is something for everyone. These classes are typically high energy with loud music and instructors who make the experience just as much a mental/emotional experience as it is a physical one.
But group workout classes are not for everyone. Maybe you don’t have a studio that’s close to where you live. Or maybe you prefer to get sweaty in the privacy of your own home. This leads me to another great option that has taken the workout world by storm. The home workout. There are tons of equipment and apps designed to be exclusively enjoyed at home. While you might not be ready to invest in a Peleton bike, consider giving their app a try. It gives you access to thousands of strength, yoga, stretching and cardio classes available on demand, or you can take them live, from the comfort of your living room! Beach Body, ToneItUp and even YoutTube are other great resources for at home workouts.
If classes aren’t your thing, no problem. Maybe you join your local gym, put some free weights in your garage or commit to getting outside for a run. You absolutely do not need fancy classes or equipment to fall in love with moving your body.
My point here is, there are SO MANY OPTIONS for working out in today’s world. There is bound to be something that you enjoy. That motivates you. That works with your schedule. And you don’t have to stick to one thing! Maybe you go to the gym on Monday, do a 10-minute YouTube ab workout on Wednesdays and go on a run to coffee with a friend on Saturday mornings. Mix it up! After all, it’s beneficial to use different muscle groups. And we’ve all seen that guy that only works out his biceps. Don’t be that guy.
Listen to your Body
Ok, listen up, because this tip is important. When developing an exercise routine, you must listen to your body. If you have bad knees, going on long runs every day is probably not in your best interest. If your friend promised you that you will love her bootcamp class but you left feeling uninspired, then maybe bootcamp is not for you. Our bodies are incredible at telling us what they need. And also, what they don’t. So, listen to what’s it’s telling you.
Quick story time: For me, I struggle with Monday mornings. As someone trying to inspire you to live your best, healthiest life, I feel like I should have learned how to champion Monday mornings by now. But, to be honest, I could always use a little more time in bed on Monday. But I know that moving my body first thing in the morning is the best thing I can do to set my day up for success. So on Mondays….I do yoga. And you know what, I LOVE it! Forcing myself to get up and go to the gym or hop on the Peleton first thing in the morning on Monday led to a lot of skipped workouts. When I cut the cardio out of my Monday’s and replaced it with a 20 minute on-demand yoga flow I started looking forward to my Monday workouts.
I share this story with the hope that it allows you to reevaluate what is working, and more importantly, what is not working in your workout routine. If you find your body is not responding well to something, if you feel like you are forcing yourself to work out and hating every minute, you’re doing the wrong workout. Listen to your body. It will help guide you to the routine that is perfect for you.
Pay Attention to How you FEEL, Not How you Look
Rome was not built in a day, nor were 6-pack abs. This article is all about finding a routine that you enjoy and look forward to. It’s about adding healthy, consistent activity to your life, as part of a healthy lifestyle. It’s about finding a routine that you can commit to, that overtime, will lead to you being a healthier individual. And overtime, these changes will lead to positive results in the mirror. But that should not be the initial goal. Instead, it is an inevitable biproduct of adopting a healthy workout routine. If you work out consistently, you will see results. But PLEASE, do not get discouraged if it doesn’t happen as quickly as you would like.
Working out has just as many mental benefits that you will never be able to see in the mirror. If you throw in the towel, you may not get to experience the influx of endorphins or the reduction of cortisol that your body so desperately wants. Working out consistently goes so far beyond what you see on the scale, so please stick with it and focus on how you FEEL, not just how you look. How you feel is what is going to keep you coming back for more.
Also, I would be remiss if I did not mention, you can’t out-exercise a horrible diet. A consistent exercise routine is just one part of a healthy lifestyle. If you are not seeing the results you desire after a few months of exercising, consider what you are eating. After all, your workouts will be far more productive when fueled by healthy foods rather than an unhealthy diet.
Parting Words
Ok fam, that’s all for now! Using the tips above I have transitioned from working out two days a week, to at least five days a week and genuinely looking forward to moving my body. Over the last eleven years my workouts have changed in accordance with my interests, health needs, schedule and stage of life. But one thing has remained consistent. I am at my best mentally when I consistently move my body. And I know you will be too! Please comment and share what workouts you are currently loving! And don’t forget to subscribe below to stay up to date on the latest JUICED content!
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