Working it out

Maintaining your workout routine

ROMER BAUTISTA STAFF

All of us, at one point in our lives or another, have made the proclamation “You know what? I’m going to start working out. I mean it this time!” Then we spend the next hour or so exercising our hearts out, vowing to keep it up every day for the next year. Of course, by the next day, most of us have abandoned our plan to stay fit in favour of staying in bed or hanging out with friends. So for those of you who can’t seem to stick to your exercise plans, here is a compilation of tips that will help you keep motivated in order to accomplish your goals.

Set your priorities: If exercising regularly is truly a goal of yours, you must reset your priorities to make sure you have time to do it. A good workout should be at least 30 minutes in length, so finding time within your schedule to fit it in should be easy. For those with busier schedules, it may mean making a sacrifice is in order, such having to record your favorite television show, or missing out on lunch with a friend.

Make a routine of it: Sticking to your exercise schedule will be a lot simpler if you can make it a part of your everyday life. Although the time of day that you work out doesn’t matter, many people find it easier to get their workout out of the way in the morning, before they start their day. Also, it is important to try to take one or two days off during the week to rest your body.

Start slowly: You’ll feel less strain on your body by taking things slowly at first and then gradually working yourself harder. This will also help you see better results, as the most important factor in muscle growth is consistent, steady exercise, not overexerting your muscles like you would by working out at your maximum potential. Before you know it, you’ll be running further, or lifting heavier weights.

Goal-setting: Set small, measurable goals that you wish to accomplish through working out. Reaching these goals will be a great motivator, ensuring that you stick to your workout plans. Be careful, however, of setting goals that will be too difficult, as failing to meet these goals will be a tough blow to your confidence. On the other hand, try not to make goals that are so easily attainable that you will accomplish them within a couple of days.

Make it a group effort: Finding a workout partner can make exercising a more enjoyable task. It also makes it much more difficult to skip a day of exercise, knowing that someone else is depending on you. Joining a health program or an exercise class is another way to make exercising a social event.

Enjoy what you are doing: With so many different ways to exercise, make sure that your workout routine is something that you enjoy doing. If you enjoy staying at home then running on a treadmill or using a workout machine, such as a Bowflex, are great options. If you enjoy the outdoors, walking or jogging can be easy to do, and all you need is a good pair of sneakers. If you enjoy the water, swimming is a great full-body workout. The point is that there is something for everybody. Hopefully by using these tips you’ll be able say the words “I’m going to start working out!” and actually mean it.