5 tips to help you stick to an exercise program
- Don’t compare yourself to others
It’s always easy especially as a beginner to watch someone more experienced finish their set of an exercise and leave you feeling intimidated or unmotivated over the fact that they are lifting heavier than you or that they look better than you. You should know that at some point in the past that person was in the same position as you. Everyone starts as a beginner.
Instead, you should only compare yourself to you, constantly remind yourself of your goals and how far you have come. Most importantly, you should acknowledge and be proud of the effort it takes to begin and commit to exercise
- Set goals
Setting goals is important because if done correctly, gives you something realistic to work towards. Goals give your workouts a purpose. They can be big or small, long term or short term, but they need to be achievable. They don’t need to be complicated. They can be as simple as walk 5000 steps every day this week. Reaching your goals can provide a great source of motivation. This is why setting small achievable goals is important.
You should always visualise your goals, always remind yourself why you are working out. Doing this is a great way to stay motivated and not give up.
- Plan your workouts
Planning the workout you are going to do and when you are going to do it will greatly increase the chances of you doing that workout. Planning beforehand can make the thought of exercise much less daunting since you will already have a clear view of your workout. If you leave your planning just before the workout it may result in you avoiding the process altogether, especially if you workout out at the end of a long working day when you don’t have much time or energy. Having a trainer or attending exercise classes is recommended if you have trouble planning your workouts.
Planning your workouts is also a great way to focus on your goals and track progress.
- Track your progress
Tracking your progress is crucial when it comes to reaching your goals. Various methods exist such as measurements, body fat %, weight, photos, and strength-based assessments. It’s a great way to determine the efficacy of what you are doing. If you are making progress, then you are on the right track. However, if you are not making progress after 2-3 months then something needs to change. For example, if you’re main goal is to lose weight but the number on the scales isn’t budging. Then you may need to change the amount of calories you are consuming.
You should also be consistently setting new goals every month or so, this is to assure you are making progress.
- Recovery is key
A common mistake beginners make is joining a gym and going all out every day of the week expecting fast results. This coupled with no workout plan is a recipe for burnout. Recovery is super important because it allows your body to heal. Recovery is not just about the days you are not training. It’s about hydration, what you eat, stretching, sleep and even meditation. Don’t rush your workout plan, be patient and results will come.
Thanks for reading
Michael