How to stay motivated to keep up with your exercise routine

Pretty much everyone should be pushing to exercise more. Sedentary jobs and lifestyles are assisting in the obesity epidemic and we all know things should change. Even while being aware of the problem and knowing the benefits of changing, it is still difficult to make a habit of working out regularly – especially if it is a new or revisited habit to form. Here are some tips on stepping up your game and keeping motivated:

1. Work out in the morning

Working out when you first wake up is a fabulous way to just get it done and out of the way. Besides that, you will probably feel more energized all day and your metabolism will get a boost right away. You won’t be too tired and hungry like after work or school. Also, I find that working out in the evening or afternoon is annoying because I have to get showered and dressed again. In the morning you can just go to the gym from bed and then get dressed only once.

2. Grab a buddy

Working out with a friend or a group can up your motivation dramatically. Exercising will be more fun and will pass quickly. Friends tend to compete for better scores which will cause you to work faster and push harder. Talking during exercise will pass time and help you gauge your intensity level. Plus, your friends will hold you accountable for not showing up if you skip out and they’ll miss your company!

3. Find an activity you love

If you are one of those people who loves the endless sea of weights and machines at a gym and loves spending hours listening to music and reading magazines while working out in a room built especially for it – good for you! Gyms are a fabulous place to work out because that’s especially what they are built for. But then there are the rest of us who aren’t so into running in place on a treadmill going nowhere. It can be especially difficult to exercise more if you aren’t looking forward to the activity. Join a dance, yoga, or martial arts class if you can or make some time to play basketball or tennis at the park with your kids or friends. If you’re close by to a state or national park grab some comfortable shoes with good soles and explore. Find whatever makes you happy and relieve some stress exercising instead of stressing about it 😛

4. Plan an after workout drink and/or snack

Before you work out prep a protein smoothie or drink so it will be ready and waiting for you once you finish. I like to add some frozen fruit and a little soymilk to the blender container and stick it in the fridge while leaving protein powder, flax meal, and a glass with a straw on the counter. Then when my workout is done I can just combine, blend, and pour. If it’s an AM workout you can prep some breakfast like placing whole wheat bread in the toaster without starting the heat and getting out the peanut butter and a knife. Maybe you could begin by laying out your ingredients for oatmeal or setting up your scrambled egg ingredients in the fridge. Of course MagicKitchen.com meals are especially easy to prepare quickly after a tough workout. The Vegetable Omelet and Spinach Quiche are especially protein rich.

5. Don’t let a missed workout deter you

If you miss a day make sure to get right back on track. Keep in mind that your muscles will atrophy after about 48 hours of working out and your metabolism boost with wear off. You will have to work extra hard to get back to where you were and gain more muscle. If you were too busy, ill, or worn out to exercise for one day it is normal. We all have our off days. Don’t feel like you failed and think about quitting. Rest days are perfectly okay as long as you know you have to get back with it the next day.

Whatever you do, find some time and get moving. Take your dog on a walk instead of sending him to the backyard or wash your car instead of paying someone else to. Try to get moving every day even a little bit. Doing a little bit more than you were before is an improvement on yourself! Make the effort and your body, mind, and soul will thank you.

Signed,
Mindy – MagicKitchen.com Blogger