We are one week into the New Year and I bet your motivation to go to the gym and your will to fight temptation is starting to fade. So many people start the New Year with great goals in mind, but never make it past the first week. Here are some tips, tricks and motivational advice to help you keep going strong this New Year.
Make the Time
Exercise takes time, but not as much time as you think. You may have started out the New Year going to the gym every day and think that’s the only way you will see change, but your wrong. Your body need rest days and time to recover and your schedule may not allow for you to go every day of the week. I always hear from my friends that they want to work out, but they never find the time and want to know how I find the time. It’s simple. I trade 40 – 60 of the minutes I would spend binge watching my favorite show on Netflix or online shopping to get a workout in.
Be Vocal
Make your resolution known. Set what you want to achieve/change, be sure to be realistic (remember baby steps). Tell people! Mention it to someone at your office, share about it to your friends at dinner, tell people so you get excited about it and they can help hold you accountable. I am not sure if it was the holidays or the giant drawer of candy in my office, but I started eating way more sugar than I ever have. This made me decide I needed to lay off the sweets and I have been temped, OH HAVE I BEEN TEMPTED, but I’ve made sure to get excited about making It through another day and sharing it with people around me. I’m not going to lay off the sweet forever, but I will give it a few weeks. Then I will happily enjoy my Reese Peanut Butter Cups again, in moderation of course.
Support Others
You are not the only on struggling out there. It’s a great feeling having someone out there rooting for you to succeed and it’s an even better feeling when someone surprises you with a compliment. I saw this women at my gym the other day and she had been doing this cardio routine by herself and I could see it in her face that she was giving it her all! When she stopped to get a drink I made sure to tell her that she was awesome and kicking butt!!! She grinned from ear to ear and said, “Thank you, I’m really trying!” I can only hope it gives her that extra push to keep at it.
More ways to support others:
– Start a support group (Facebook, group text, community forum, etc.) Tell people what you are working towards and share support with others.
– If you know working out on your own has failed you in the past, join a gym with group classes or find a workout buddy. TRY: MadPower
Reward Yourself
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Be sure to get that dessert you have worked so hard towards or take that afternoon off from the gym to hang with friend. Just not all the time to the point where you lost your mind set.
Good luck and keep at it!