We all know we should do it, so why does it seem so hard sometimes to get our bodies moving? If you are lacking motivation and can\u2019t seem to drag yourself to the gym, you\u2019re not alone. When you look at fitness as a chore to check off your to-do list, it can often feel like it\u2019s not really worth the effort. Here\u2019s some good news: we\u2019ve got advice to help you create a fitness plan you\u2019ll actually enjoy and want to maintain!<\/p>\n
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First, know your \u201cwhy.\u201d <\/strong>What are your fitness goals? Are you trying to lose weight? Training for a race? Do you feel you need to exercise to improve your health or self-esteem? Is your goal to build muscle or gain strength? Knowing why you want to be active can help you stick to a fitness routine. Once you know your overall goal, break it into small, manageable steps. Make your goals \u201cSMART\u201d: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Take stock of your current fitness level<\/strong>. When you know where you started, it will be easier to track how far you\u2019ve come! Consider keeping track of your heart rate before and after walking a mile, the length of time it takes you to walk a mile, how many pushups you can complete, how far you can reach forward when you are sitting on the floor with your legs stretched in front of you, your waist measurement and your BMI. Write all of these things down, and then measure them again at intervals as you work towards your goals. Having more than one factor by which to gauge your progress can help encourage you to keep going.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Think about activities you find fun. <\/strong>If your workout feels like drudgery, you\u2019re probably not going to stick to it. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to be active, and you are sure to find a few that you actually like to do. Running is great, but so are hiking, rollerblading, boxing, biking, dancing and swimming. Make time for activities you find pleasant and then incorporate movement into your everyday life as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Know the four essential elements. <\/strong>When you\u2019re creating a fitness program, you\u2019ll want to keep it balanced, with at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week, along with strength training at least twice a week. Beyond that, there are four essential elements of a good fitness plan.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Be realistic about your schedule. <\/strong>First, realize that you are not going to be able to jump into a strenuous regime immediately if you haven\u2019t been exercising. You will need to ease into it and progress at a pace that works best for you. Next, recognize that the plan that is a great fit for someone else may not be for you. When do you prefer to work out? Pay attention to the time of day when you have the most energy and plan your routine around that time. Decide how many days each week you want to be active, and make sure the scheduled time you intend will realistically fit in with the rest of your activities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Track your progress. <\/strong>Write down your goals in the beginning and write down your progress as you continue your workouts. It can be helpful to take your personal fitness assessment again six weeks after you have started, and then again every few months. Pay attention to how you are progressing and analyze whether you need to modify your routine to make it more effective.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the Wellbridge Family of Athletic Clubs<\/a>, we offer world-class training that keeps up to date with the latest in health and wellness. At our clubs, you\u2019ll be greeted by our friendly team before you\u2019re challenged and motivated by top-notch instructors in our fitness classes. You\u2019ll make new friends because you belong here. Join today<\/a> or contact us<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We all know we should do it, so why does it seem so hard sometimes to get our bodies moving? If you are lacking motivation…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness-topics"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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