Workout Motivation

The health benefits that result from consistent exercise is no secret. From decreasing disease development and injury prevention, to improved balance and boosting your endurance. Exercising delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and improves heart efficiency. 

Some of the most common struggles with exercise commitment is: 

-lack of motivation

-lack of time
-lack of money
-lack of ability/knowledge

How can we combat these problems and improve life duration and quality? There is no single solution to solve ALL of these struggles. But finding your main conflict, and determining a realistic solution will bring the most success.

Here are a few simple suggestions and ideas to increase your commitment and motivation to successful health improvement:

Find a workout buddy: social connection is another important aspect of combating depression and daily stressors. Having someone to count on and interact with can improve exercise enjoyment and commitment.

Designate time each day: set time each day to move. Whether in the morning, afternoon or evening, find a time that is most realistic for you. Preferable a time when you have the most energy and drive. Consider multitasking, such as: calf raises while doing dishes, or squats while dinner cooks. Get creative! 

Break up the routine: getting 30 min of exercise 5 days a week can seem unrealistic for a busy schedule. This doesn't have to be the case. Consider breaking up your routine and fit in 3, 10 min spurts of exercise during your day. This could include a walk around the block, jumping jacks during tv commercials and playing tag with your kids after dinner. Make it simple and realistic and your bound to stay committed and reap the results!

Start small: set realistic goals to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Being overwhelmed can lead to frustration and quitting. If you don't currently exercise, designate 1 or 2 times a week to be more active. Progression takes time. Be patient with yourself and build goals at a reasonable and realistic pace.

Find something you enjoy: it doesn't matter how, just get up and move. Finding exercise you enjoy is crucial to becoming consistent and enjoying the process to improved health. 

Track your progress: tracking your progress can help keep you motivated and committed to your end goal. Progress tracking can look different for everyone. Some simple inexpensive tracking suggestions include: body measurements, before & after pictures, and diary tracking. 

 **Avoid scale measurements as muscle weighs more than fat, so it is not an accurate depiction of progress and can lead to frustration.

Find a realistic and reasonable approach to improving your health and wellness today!