So You’re Looking to Make Fitness a Lifestyle?
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For many people, the hardest part about working out is doing it consistently. It is one more thing to add to your daily/weekly to do list, and who needs that?
Unfortunately though, we all know the most important part of exercise is consistency though. The good news is that you came to the right place to learn that adding regular exercise into your routine isn’t too difficult.
You don’t need to do anything drastic or make huge changes (unless you eventually choose to, of course). While you do need to make a mental commitment, these 4 simple ideas will make it easier than you think to make fitness a part of your routine:
1. Make Fitness Social.
These days, more often than not, social events revolve around eating and/or drinking (read more about how to sidestep the second part without feeling awkward in this blog post).
A nice alternative to catching up with friends over dinner is by taking a walk (arguably much easier in warmer weather). Alternatively, new workout type boutiques are always popping up and offering discounts for new customers, so why not try a new class with friends? (With dinner afterward, of course.)
You’ll find that you can catch up more easily over a walk than straining to hear over the noise of a restaurant. Or, if you try an aerial Pilates class together, you’ll always have the stories of the experience to laugh about! (Been there, done that.)
2. Find a Couple of Favorite Strength Routines.
Ultimately, the best way to de-overwhelm fitness is to lay the debate of cardio versus strength training to rest once and for all…
Strength training is the king.
That doesn’t mean cardio isn’t important! But you can build a weight training circuit that increases your heart rate, which adds the cardio element.
(Given the importance of strength training, you will understand why I love barre and Body Gym - see #4 for your easiest at-home strength training routines!)
If weight loss is what your goal is, strength training and nutrition are your best friends. If you don’t eat it, you don’t have to work it off. That means you should eat your fruits and veggies, along with your Mediterranean favorite fats, and lean proteins like fish, you are feeding your body. Remember that food nourishes your body, so you shouldn’t punish it for treating it to what it needs.
With that nutritional base, strength training should be your focus because it will build your muscle and bone mass (which you will appreciate even more as you age) plus shape your body and give you all those pretty lines in your shoulders and thighs.
I have been teaching and taking workout classes for lunch for 20 years, and this is probably my best tip to keep on track with exercise.
Click on the link above to read my best tips, from designing the perfect midday workout to your fastest locker room routine!
Yes, you have crazy days where you cannot get away from your desk, but for the most part, if you can schedule time in your calendar, go for it!
You will be surprised how refreshed and recharged you will be in the afternoon with a burst of exercise and mental break from your day. You’ll think more clearly and potentially tackle things that were bugging you in the morning (I have defeated more than one spreadsheet after a noon workout).
A lot of women are put off by a midday gym visit because of the getting ready afterward part.
Well, I have lots of shortcuts for preparation before your trip to the gym that will help getting ready faster afterward. I’ve taught many a Spin class at lunch, so I have a system perfected for getting in and out of the locker room in no time.
If you want to learn my best tricks from 20 years of lunchtime fitness, read my pre- and post-workout musts here, in addition to the most efficient workouts to keep you away from your desk for no more than an hour!
When you have a few key pieces of workout equipment and some go-to YouTube channels, you can knock out a workout before work, while dinner is cooking, or even during a conference call that’s boring (I won’t tell your boss). When you eliminate a commute to the gym, you are far more likely to not do at least some type of exercise.
I live in an apartment in a city, so space for the actual workout and the storage of equipment are both at a premium. Fortunately, I can still challenge my body from head to toe with a good barre routine and Body Gym.
Barre is essentially a crossover among ballet, Pilates, and yoga utilizing tiny movements with high repetitions to develop muscles you didn’t even know you had. (Read more about barre and what it can do for you in this blog post.)
If you want to try barre risk-free in the comfort of your own home, I recommend Alo Moves. I subscribe to this - you can’t beat the variety of barre (and Pilates, yoga, HIIT, strength, and more) classes and programs for only $13 per month!
Since it is good to mix up your workouts, I also love Body Gym, which provides what we would consider more traditional strength training with heavier weights. The best part is that Body Gym is portable at less than three pounds, can be disassembled and reassembled, and has options for increasing in strength resistance as you get stronger! (Plus it has a 60 day money back guarantee and a month free trial of streaming workouts!)
Another benefit is it won’t break the bank – at less than $100, it’s a lot cheaper than an annual gym membership, plus you just might get more use out of it! Click here to read more about Body Gym and how it can work for your body goals!
5. Make It a Competition.
Signing up for a race will encourage you to lace up your running shoes! This is not exclusive to running – there are lots of fitness competitions online. Also, different workout boutiques tend to have spring and summer workout challenges – joining one will be a motivator to keep you going. Just be sure your reasonable (i.e. don’t sign up for a marathon in a month if you currently don’t run).
These next two things are added bonuses that make fitness easier and eliminate excuses!
Buy Fun Workout Clothes.
Let’s be honest – you are more likely to go to the gym when you’re wearing a cute new outfit.
However, please note that you don’t have to invest a lot of money in your workout gear! Remember, you are literally destroying these clothes every time you wear them.
Instead, I suggest you try these deals on yoga pants, tanks, and shorts on Amazon. I have had some of these items for almost 10 years, wear and wash them frequently, and they still fit well and are as soft as butter (PLUS, your butt looks good in the pants…)
If you feel good in the clothes you are wearing, you are more likely to work out in them! And you’re more likely to get out of bed to put them on…
Have a Gym Bag Packed at All Times.
If you don’t have to do any additional work, you’re more likely to get to the gym.
If you already have everything gathered and ready to go, that’s one less excuse for missing a workout. Either keep it in your car, or keep a cute cosmetic bag constantly stocked and switch out clothes nightly to carry with you on the train in the morning, having the goods with you and read to go allow you to sneak in a workout even when you’re short on time!
Expert tip: keep an extra sports bra, socks, bobby pins, and deodorant in your desk. These are, in my opinion, the most frustrating things you can forget in your gym bag that are just enough to keep you from working out.
Incorporating one or more of these strategies into your routine should make working out more consistently easier and less overwhelming than you’d originally thought.
If you want help getting started with a new routine, click here for two FREE routines – one strength and one high intensity cardio routine – click below to sweat!
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