Talking yourself out of exercising is extremely easy, while doing the opposite can be quite tough. Even if you have the best intentions of working out and achieving fitness, you will have no trouble in finding excuses. You could be too tired, the weather could be bad, or you just have too much on your plate. It can be tough to keep your fitness routine going, but Ido Fishman fitness trainers say that the right attitude and a handful of tricks can turn out to be immensely helpful in this regard. Some of the things you can do to stick to your exercise routine in the long run are:
- Do it for yourself
There are two types of motivation for exercise; internal and external. The former refers to motivation that comes from within, such as wanting to be healthy to avoid diseases or exercising because you love it. As for the latter, it is when people start exercising to look good for a wedding, or something similar. According to experts like Ido Fishman, internal motivation is better because it will get you to stick to it in the long run. Therefore, it is best to motivate yourself internally, so you do not give up.
- Start slow
One of the reasons why many people are unable to stick to a workout routine for long is because they dive in headfirst, straight into the deep end. Would you run 10 miles in a day? Ido Fishman says that doing too much, too soon is going to leave you discouraged, injured and sore. You should take it easy when you get started. Take baby steps and when that becomes easy, you can add some more challenge along the way.
- Mix things up
Another reason why people end up abandoning their workouts is because they get bored of it in a while. Ido Fishman says that doing different types of workout can help you keep things interesting and it will also engage different muscle groups. You can switch between machines as well as exercise routines, so your body does not get used to it and you don’t get bored either.
- Don’t go overboard
Half of the people who start a new fitness program end up ditching it within the first year. Ido Fishman says that this is because they push themselves too much. Expecting too much from your body is not fair to it and it is natural for you to become exhausted. Instead of doing so, you need to recognize and accept your limits and work within them. You can get stronger gradually and kick things up a notch rather than starting out that way.
- Have a friend
When you are trying to talk yourself out of a workout, having a friend can make a big difference. After all, they can steer you right back to the gym. Ido Fishman says that you will be less tempted to bail out from the gym when you know there is someone waiting for you. Furthermore, you will also be able to work out longer because there will be someone there to keep you company.
- Get used to it
You should make your workout your everyday habit, in the same way as you brush your teeth or have breakfast. Ido Fishman says that when working out becomes part of your routine, you will not even think about it. It will become a regular feature and you will have no trouble in getting to it.
- Keep track of it
One of the most important things you can do to stick to a workout routine is to keep track of it. Ido Fishman says that when you record your progress through a fitness app or journal, you will be able to motivate yourself because you will know exactly what milestones you have achieved and celebrate them accordingly to keep up the good work!