How many excuses get in your way each day? “It’s too late”, “I’m too tired,” “I don’t have enough time”. The list goes on and on. Well, how important is that item you excuse yourself from? And why is it truly important to you? Whatever your goal may be, define it and stick to it. If you are on a weight loss journey, do you remember why you first started? It’s ok if it was for a different reason than the reason you still get up in the morning and exercise. If you haven’t re-evaluated your goals lately, you may be at a standstill in your weight loss journey. Our wants, desires, and motivations change, and it’s important to re-visit them, cater to them and make any adjustments as necessary.
The first step in re-evaluating your goals would be to write down 3 goals or reasons why exercising is still important to you. Why do you workout? Do you workout for the “right” reasons? What are those reasons? Have you been walking or running through your weight loss journey? Try to remember what your motivation was to workout, and work towards that goal or a newly revised goal. The trick is to be constantly re-motivated and then re-focus your efforts. Once you’ve re-examined or reconstructed your plan for losing weight, follow the tips below to help facilitate some change in your routine and eliminate those bothersome excuses.
1. Use your spare time wisely. Even something like a lunch break to fit in some exercise can be helpful to your fitness goals and not to mention, it will make you more alert and productive at work.
2. Schedule a workout and don’t cancel it. Preparation is key to any well-executed plan. Fitness is no different. Make a date with yourself, for your health. Jot down a schedule of some group workout classes and add it to your planner. The key here is not to cancel on your self. Keep in mind, you are making plans for your longevity, don’t put yourself last.
3. Do some housework! Since you have to do it anyways, you might as well make the most of it. So exercises like squats while you’re picking up toys or lunging while mopping can help you get the most out of cleaning the house.
4. Make it a family affair. Exercise doesn’t have to be a solitary activity, you can take your husband or wife with you, as well as the kids. Build lasting relationships with your family while incorporating exercise into your lives. This will build great habits for the kids (and yourself!) and show them that you care about them, as well as yourself, by investing in health.
5. Workout before your body knows what you’re doing. Even if you’re not a morning person, it may be time that you decided to become one. If this lifestyle is important to you, of course. 😉 Starting your day on a positive note and exercising, will most definitely put you in a better mood for the rest of the day. Just think, you won’t have to stress about making an excuse for yourself later in the day, you will have completed your exercise routine already.
6. Keep your workout clothes visible. Nothing’s worse than being motivated to workout and then being unprepared to do the workout. So prepare a gym bag full of clean exercise clothes, shoes, a bottle of water and a towel, and throw it in the trunk of your car and/or keep it in the office, or even by your front door at home.
Remembering why you’re working out is essential to getting up and doing it everyday. Examining your goals is what will keep you at a steady pace down the weight loss road and not crawling down an unhealthy weight-gain road. Let us know why YOU workout! And don’t forget to keep our time-saving fitness tips in mind when you need that extra push.
Christina
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