motivated about fitness routine ,Its really important to make the time to exercise regularly on your weightloss journey. Unfortunately, that can be a lot easier said than done.
It’s very easy to say ”Tomorrow, I will start tomorrow” seeing results is one of the best motivators but to see results you need to start doing the exercise now!
There are a few ways to stay motivated on your weightloss journey and help you reach your own fitness goals, what those are for you/
1. Setting sensible goal
Set a specific but realistic goal for your exercise not just the end goal (for em that number was just to big to get my head round but losing 2-5 kilograms of weight in a month, for instance, could be a short term weightloss goal. That end goal of losing 20, 30 or 100 lbs may well just feel impossible for the time being, especially when we just start out.
When it comes to setting an exercise goal be mindful of your starting point, personally I went from living in my office/gaming chair and only moving from there for the essentials of life. Start with a goal i will walk for 30 minutes each day or set a distance this is something you can assess how you are doing each week and change as you get more comfortable.
2. Monitor the progress
Record your progress, use a notebook, or a tracker, there are lots of devices and sites that can help. Ask yourself not have i done better today but look over a longer period has my activity increased this month when compared to last? Look for and work towards this being a trend.
Seeing an upward trend on the distance you walked or how fast you did it, possibly even did you jog or run some of it. Are you making a trend to be faster, more active this is a real positive and will help you keep going to meet your goald.
3. Guilt – put it behind you
You are going to miss the odd day or do less or eat more, don’t do what i have done so many times over the years. Ahh i ceated and had a bag of chips, so i may as well eat everything else!
You missed a day, ok, do a little more tomorrow, look at the trend for the week or month!
4. Focus on yourself
There will always be people who are faster, stronger or generally more fit, dont compare yourself to them, rather look at last month or last years YOU! Are you healthier, faster, stronger or thinner than them?
Your exercise time is for you and all about you as its your journey and your destination.
5. Group support
From friends, colleagues or family including your better half ask them to encourage you and help you be accountable to do more this month than last.
Tell them your goals and how your doing, talk to them but don’t let this turn to criticism, if you hear ”but its easy” remind them that as a freind you need the positive support.
6. Fun makes it easier to be motivated about fitness routine
What do you enjoy doing? Take pleaure in the small things!
When I was a lot lighter i enjoyed….. that may not be enjoyable now (or is that a goal to get back to?) If you dred doing an exercise maybe its not right for you, i dread and loath the exercise bike, so i choose to walk or row! Find what is right for you on that day at that time!
Finding that right thing for you will make exercise fun rather that that chore you have to do so always put off. It doesnt have to be going to a gym or climbing a mountain, those can be really intimidating.
For be this was adopting a rescue dog and after a lot of effort training and socialising taking him for walks every morning.
7. Start with 5 minutes
Depending on what point you are starting your journey from start to push yourself to do 5-minutes of exercise. When your done, ask yourself can i do more? If you can great carry on, if not try and do more than one session spaced throughout the day.
8. Be flexible with time
Dont be fixed minded with you time, I will exercise at 0700, oh i slept in i guess i dont need to do it today. Do some exercise when it fits into your day, put a YouTube exercise video on and do it when you can.
If your a morning person do something as part of your morning routine or in the evening if your a night owl.
9. The past is behind you
No matter what you where or did i the past if you have read this far you are looking to either start your weightloss journey or perhaps step it up a gear.
Your goal now is stay healthy so that you can enjoy life.
10. Reward yourself and stay motivated about your fitness routine
Work hard, play hard was almost a family motto: I just took it to far on the playing hard and not enough on the work side when it came to my fitness.
These days I try to reward myself for the hard exercise but in a thoughtout fashion, i failed misserably with a reward meal so now I try to think of things that are fun and non-edible.
Hire that movie (from what ever is your favorite vendor online) and have a movie night, that pair of trainers you have been wanting etc
A personal one, when i get to XL (i started at 7XL and am somewhere between 2XL and 3XL depending on brand) i am going to buy myself a proper gortex walk coat.
