Making Fit Happen
Are you the type of person who can go and get their workout in on their own or do you need the accountability of others to get your fitness on?
While I LOVE hitting up a workout with other people, the majority of the time it just isn’t feasible for me.
If I were to skip a workout every time I had to hit it solo (because it’s not my favourite way to exercise), my fitnessing would be few and far between. It’s not that I choose to always workout by myself, and because it’s not a choice, I had to work on my mindset and make that a habit just like the rest of my healthy habits. I recently got to drop-in on a class at a gym I’ve never been to before and it was so much fun!
I paid extra care to make sure I reached full extension on those burpees for the coach! I mean not that I don’t when I’m on my own, but you know what I mean 😉. I consider myself so lucky to be able to walk into so many gyms around Western Canada and be welcomed with open arms and so many hugs! When I drove out to BC this fall I saw so many familiar faces at the gyms along the way and I absolutely loved it.
That being said, here are some of the ways I kick that nagging little devil off my shoulder that says ’stay on the couch – it’s comfy and warm’ and get my butt in gear for my workout:
-Schedule it in your planner. This is also a way I’ve found it easier to stick with, especially if you have to workout on your own. I also schedule my walks into my planner. Those are a bit harder to skip because I have a couple of really naggy, 4-legged furry roommates who will bug me until I get my boots on everyday.
-Drink some caffeine or something that leaves you feeling energized. Matcha give you that boost? Do that! Need some carbs? Have a banana!
-Take a refreshing shower or walk to jumpstart that central nervous system.
-Crank up some good music. I personally like to shake my booty around the house while I get ready to hit up my workout and that will get me pumped up.. but I mean each to their own 😆
-Make my Instagram story followers my accountabilibuddies. I know how good I feel after and proud of myself for getting my workout in, and all I am going to do if I stay on the couch is mindlessly watch Netflix. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching some tv each night but for me an hour or two is plenty rather than the 5 I could potentially be settling in for. If having your social media pals as your accountability buddy is not your style, have your bestie or fellow fitness fanatic send you a text to help keep you motivated (spouses are sometimes easier to say no to 😂).
-Have some gym clothes that you’re excited to wear. If you love wearing your old, baggy t-shirt that’s great! It doesn’t have be anything new or expensive, just something that gets you excited to get going.
-Combat your muscle soreness with more fitness. Are you convincing yourself that you’re too sore to workout again? Did you know that working out again is the cure for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)? You can take the longest epsom salt bath in the world and stretch all day, but the quickest way to get that lactic acid moving again is to get the blood pumping to the muscles with an elevated heart rate.
Make those fitness goals a reality and crush them by including them as part of your daily habit and not as a punishment. Whatever your workout is, make it something you enjoy so you’ll keep coming back to it over and over again and not want to stop.
-Ash