Talking yourself out of exercising is very easy. Even if you have the best intentions to work out, it is not that difficult to find excuses to avoid it, like you are too tired, busy, or sleepy. It can be frustrating because you want to achieve the fitness goals you have set, but you don’t want to exercise. Therefore, people are often left searching for ways they can stock to an exercise program. If you are in the same boat, Ido Fishman says that a couple of tricks and the right attitude can help you in doing so. How to stay in the game? Let’s find out:
- Exercise for yourself
It is a fact that people who are externally motivated will not be able to stick to it in the long run. This means that if you are exercising because you have been pressured into it in one way or another, you will burnout. According to Ido Fishman, you have to be internally motivated to be able to stick to it. This means that you have to love exercising because only that will help you stay in it for the long haul.
- Start with baby steps
Would you run 10 miles on your first day? Ido Fishman says that doing too much, too soon can leave you discouraged, sore and even injured. When you get started, you should take it easy and only add to the challenge when you think things are becoming too easy.
- Hang tough
Who says you will be in the best form from the first day of strength training? It takes practice to workout and you will only get the hang of it if you continue to make an effort.
- Mix things up
Experts like Ido Fishman recommend that you keep things interesting by doing different types of exercise and focus on different muscle groups. If you usually use the elliptical machine, switch things up by hopping on the stair climber. You can also switch between free weights and machines when you are strength training. This doesn’t mean that you have to reinvent your whole routine every week, but you may want to shift it every now and then.
- Add a friend
Your inner demons are going to try and convince you to hit the couch rather than getting on the treadmill. This is where having a workout partner can make a big difference because they will be able to steer you back in the correct direction. Bailing out on exercise is easier, but Ido Fishman says that bailing out on a friend is a lot harder.
- Get used to it
Your exercise program should become your habit, similar to brushing your teeth, or having breakfast. When you make it part of your routine, you will stop thinking about it. In a couple of months, it will become a regular feature and you will not have to worry about getting demotivated.
- Keep it real
If you are planning to shed 30 pounds in a week, Ido Fishman suggests that you learn to keep it real. Give yourself a reality check because this is simply not possible. You can increase your workout from 2 to 3 days, or you can extend it by 15 minutes a day, but you cannot add an hour altogether.
- Track it
It is best to have a fitness journal, or take advantage of a fitness app to track and record your progress. This means that you take note of what you are doing, like how long you are walking, what exercises you are doing and the muscles you are focusing on and so on. Likewise, Ido Fishman suggests that you also record the results of these exercises because this can go a long way in keeping you invested. When you can see noticeable results, it will keep you going, rather than discouraging you.