Workout Motivation to Live Your Best Life

how to workout consistently and live your best life

So, you’ve decided to make this year the year you turn your workout dreams into reality. This is the year you are going to commit, and STAY committed. We are so happy to hear that, and we promise you, we are here to help.

It will take more than a one-time decision. You need an action plan to sustain your commitment throughout the year. The goal is to make your workout a habit, something that comes naturally and that you can’t live without. We are going to help you plan it into your life. We need to weave it into the very fabric of your life.

How Often Should I Workout?

Everyone’s workout goals are different, but whether you want to lose weight, compete in a race, improve mobility, or simply increase your quality of life, working out regularly should be at the heart of everyone’s goal. To stay consistent, you need to create a habit, a reliable routine. For most people working out 4 or more times a week is a great goal. People sometimes don’t realize that to achieve 4 workouts a week you have to shoot for 6.

How to Create a Solid Workout Routine

1. Dress in your workout clothes every day.
2. If you can’t get dressed first thing in your workout clothes keep a packed exercise bag in your car.
3. Enlist a workout buddy.
4. Find a workout (or workouts) you really enjoy.
5. Choose an environment that you love. For example, if you love the outdoors make sure you exercise outside. People sometimes think they have to “suffer” to workout. No. You don’t.
6.  If you are social get with people by joining a gym or a club in your area. No matter what your choice of exercise it’s almost guaranteed you will find a group of like-minded people wanting to do it with you. On the odd chance you can’t, start your own club.
7. Make it FUN.
8. Put on music that you like and gets you pumped. Put together a workout play list.
9. Make it SIMPLE. Getting active and burning calories does not have to be complicated. Just get moving.
10. Make it convenient. Don’t sign up for a gym that’s a half hour out of your way.
11. No time? Start small. Choose an intense workout that takes 15-30 minutes.

Time to Make it Personal

This list is a good start, but now we want you to make it personal. Working out is personal and what works for one person is not always going to work for another. What we want you to do is to come up with a list of your TOP EXCUSES for not working out. Think about all the reasons you find to NOT work out and put them down on paper.

My list looks something like this:

1.  Not enough time.
2.  Too tired.
3.  Not really excited about my workout.

Ok, I could go on. But here is the next and most important step: FIND a way to SOLVE each of these!

1.  Not enough time. SOLUTION:  There are lots of things I can do in a very short amount of time. I don’t need to go to the gym (which adds at least 30 minutes to my workout). Even 15 minutes at home is enough to boost my mood, my metabolism and make me feel better about myself.
2.  Too tired. SOLUTION: Don’t let the feeling of fatigue keep you from working out. In fact, if you are feeling sluggish it could be directly related to your lack of exercise. Again, even just a few minutes will get your blood flowing and boost your mood so that you will feel more energized immediately.
3.  Not excited about my workout. SOLUTION: If you’re not excited about your workout then GET excited about your workout. Find something new to do, recruit a friend, try a different class! Change is good as a motivator and good for your muscles. Your body and your mind will thank you.

What Not to Do:

• Do not ask yourself if you feel like working out. This is pure sabotage. Just get dressed. If you are tired, the workout will GIVE you energy. Often this is hard to imagine but it’s true.
  • Instead of asking yourself how you feel right now, focus on how you are GOING to feel afterwards:
    • energized
    • proud
    • satisfied
    • happy
    • stronger
    • encouraged
    • sweaty
• Don’t let setbacks discourage you. Be prepared to occasionally feel defeated, to miss your workouts, to lose momentum. It’s normal and happens to everyone. You are exercising for the rest of your life. It’s a long road, and life will happen. Just pick right back up where you left off and get going again. Every little bit counts. As Jodie and I like to say, “Your body remembers every single workout!” And thank goodness it does.

More Real Rewards of Exercise:

General & Medical Benefits:

• control your weight
• immediate mood boost
• increased metabolism
• improved sleep
• less pain
• look and feel younger
• increased mobility
• more energy
• increased longevity
• reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
• lowered risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
• less risk of some cancers
• stronger bones and muscles
• improved mental health

For some healthy recipe inspiration, check out this awesome blog post from Bianca Alexandra Beauty.

Let’s Recap:

So, you’ve made a commitment to yourself. That’s a GREAT start. Next, create an action plan. Once you have chosen your workout or workouts, it’s time to find your facilities, your classes, your groups to sustain your program. Then, put your program onto paper. Plan your weekly routine. Plan for interruptions because they will happen. That means over-schedule your workouts. Be ready for those same old excuses and how to overcome them. Then, let the fun begin. Get ready to reap the incredible rewards that will infuse your life. We can’t wait to hear about your success.

Cheers to health, happiness and this year being your best year yet.