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1. Read fitness magazines. Fitness magazines are a great source of both
information and inspiration. They can help remind you of why you want to get fit
in the first place!
2. Work out with a friend. Not only can this help you actually get to your
workout appointment, but friends can help encourage each other to work out with
more intensity.
3. Set a regular time for fitness. If you have fitness time incorporated into
your schedule, it's much easier to stick with it, especially over time.
4. Find exercise activities that you enjoy. Whilst it's important to have a
balanced workout, there are many ways to build muscle and strength, flexibility,
and get aerobic exercise. List the types of activities you enjoy, or think you
might enjoy, and start working through all of them. You could even rotate them
every 6 weeks.
5. Build variety into your program. Not only does this make it more interesting,
you'll actually work different muscle groups, or the same muscles but in a
different way. The challenges we create for our body in adapting to new types of
exercises results in a fitter and stronger body. Change your program every 6
weeks.
6. Try new fitness activities - Try dancing, boxing, plates, yoga, or
kickboxing.
7. Frame the thought of exercise in a positive way in your mind. Even if you
don't like exercise, try and think of it in a positive way - that way you are
less likely to talk yourself out of it. Think of how good you feel afterwards,
not the pain involved in getting there!
8. Exercise outdoors. Whether it's team sports or swimming, get out in the fresh
air!
9. Try skipping. Skipping ropes fit into small bags, don't require expensive gym
memberships, are available for use 24 hours a day, are never overcrowded, and
are great aerobic activity.
10. Try resistance training. Resistance training will increase the size and
strength of your muscles, thus preventing injuries. If you're not up to free
weights, take a circuit class, or a body pump class.
11. If you're tired, or your muscles ache, try something a bit gentler - but
don't avoid fitness entirely 'until you feel better'. Swimming is good because
it helps support the whole body, and it is still a good workout.
12. Don't rest too long between sets. Otherwise your workout will take a lot
longer to complete, and it could be off-putting mentally the next time you are
scheduled to do a workout, especially if you don't have a lot of time that day.
13. Use a heart rate monitor. That way you can make sure you are working out at
the right intensity, thus maximizing your workout time. You'll see improvements
a lot more quickly that way.
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