By Magdelene Lim
It is easy to get started on a fitness regime, but most of the time we find it much harder to keep our fitness regime going as we lose motivation along the way. Well, we have 10 ways to help you stay motivated on your fitness regime:
- Don’t be motivated by the wrong reason
Everyone works out and we all do it for different reasons. Some do it to not feel guilty when they eat, others to keep fit and some for weight loss. It is important to work out for the right reason, so start loving yourself and your body and aim to get healthier.
If you are motivated by an event (eg. photoshoot or wedding), what happens after that? Set a long-term motivation and work towards it, so you don’t end up giving up easily.
- Focus on health, not on numbers
If you own a weighing scale and step on it one too many times throughout a day, you may want to consider throwing the scale out because you are too fixated on the number you see! If you’ve started lifting weights, you might even see the numbers on the scale rise despite controlling your diet and working your butt off in the gym.
The weight gain could be a result of muscle gain, so choose to focus on how you’re feeling instead. Remember, numbers are only temporal. Choose to put your health and wellbeing first; exercising has long been known to have beneficial effects on one’s physical and mental health as seen here.
- Don’t compare yourself to others
We are all made uniquely, so don’t compare your progress against anyone else’s. Our bodies react differently to the different types of workouts. For example, some people shape up quicker with cardio while others are more suited for lifting weights. What matters at the end of the day is that you’re setting realistic goals and being accountable to yourself during your workouts.
Oh, and stop comparing to Hollywood actors or influencers cause that is definitely not a realistic goal. Not to mention, most photos in magazines that you see? Majority of them are photoshopped. So why live in a lie? Be true to yourself!
- Set small and realistic goals
Start with small goals like “I want to go for the 10km run” first, before working up the ranks to a full marathon and even an an Ironman Triathlon one day. If you set a goal that is too ambitious, you will feel demoralised if your progress is slow, making your goal seem unattainable.
Thus, set small goals like “I want to run 5km today” and then increase your distance as you go along. Set small goals to achieve big things as there is a much higher chance you will stay motivated for longer.
- Keep it fun and enjoy the process
Rather than painstakingly push through your workout because you find it a chore, try to keep the process fun or find something you like to do. I remember how I used to hate running because I found it boring, so what I did was run with no destination in mind. I switched on my GPS and running app, and then just ran to clock both distance and time with no specific end point. It was exciting because you feel like you are heading out on an adventure.
Also, go out there and try different types of exercises. Running may not be your thing, but maybe yoga, Zumba, Pilates, Muay Thai or cycling might be! There will definitely be something for you that will keep you motivated for longer!
- Find a buddy
If you realise you tend to lose motivation when you work out on your own, then perhaps you’d have a higher chance staying on track if you find yourself a workout buddy or a workout group. Partner up with someone who can encourage you to exercise or push you harder when you’re both working out, or join group sessions that will entice you to keep coming back.
- Reward yourself
Reward yourself? Do you mean CHEAT DAY!? It’s most probably the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind. Unfortunately I don’t mean that. Instead, go for a massage to loosen out tense muscles or get yourself the new pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing. That way, you’ll be more incentivised to keep your workouts going in order to enjoy a sweet reward.
- Be flexible
When planning your workout regime, remember it’s important not to be rigid! If you feel sore from a workout from the day before yet have another workout scheduled today, it’s only normal to rest your body and skip it. Be flexible to change your plans according to how your body feels rather than to push yourself through it. You should always take time off and rest especially if your body doesn’t feel right. BUT, don’t use it as an excuse each time you are feeling lazy to miss a workout!
- Be patient
Patience is all about the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. Be patient with results and your progress.
Don’t be fooled by online progress workouts that promise you a beach body in four weeks, thinking you’d look exactly like the creator and the models after the stipulated time frame. Know that every body reacts to each workout differently.
Even though you’ve set yourself a goal of getting fitter, or perhaps losing a certain number of kilos, don’t lose yourself when you do so. Rather, just be yourself, set your own pace and be comfortable. You’ll get there in no time.
- You will always have off days
It is alright if your body is not reacting well to your workout or if you’re not meeting your expectations for that day. Remember not to be so hard on yourself and beat yourself up over it! Think back to the main reason why you started on this fitness regime – your personal health and well being.
You aren’t training to win the gold medal nor to be the best in the world, so take it easier on yourself! Reach out to your friends, or anyone in the RTNT community. We’re here for you, ready to push you on to greater heights!
