*This is a sponsored post for Lunchbox*
Many of us make goals to exercise every year and sometimes we fall short. I want to give you some ways you can Keep your Exercise Goals and be more consistent in this area of your life. It will be worth it!
Plan Your Workouts Every Week
Every Sunday night, I look ahead at my schedule for the week and determine if I can go to the gym when I normally like to go. If I have a conflict, I determine then if I can make an alternative plan and if so, when that will take place in my day. Sometimes this means meeting my husband after work in the parking lot of the gym and exchanging children and vehicles. Sometimes that means getting up early (and going to bed earlier the night before).
It’s all about planning at this point and if you don’t plan exercise into your schedule just like you plan lunch dates with friends, playdates for your kids and grocery trips, you won’t exercise.
Have an Accountability Partner
This is SO important! Find a friend to meet you at the gym, meet someone to walk or run outdoors or even just ask your friend to text you at 5:30 a.m. to make sure you’re up early to exercise even if you aren’t meeting them. I know when my husband asks me if I am working out on any given day or he encourages me to make time, I’m much more likely to do it. I also notice when I make time for exercise, he does the same. People feed off each other.
Reward Yourself
I reward myself with new workout clothes when I reach a goal. Sometimes it’s losing a few pounds I’ve gained over time, losing a certain amount of inches, working out consistently for so many days a week for an extended time period I’ve determined or sticking to a certain diet for a pre-determined amount of time.
I’ve also rewarded myself with a manicure, pedicure or massage when I reach goals I’ve set. When I attain goals and reward myself it helps me want to stick to my exercise plan.
Get the Right Gear
Having the right clothing for exercise can help you look and feel better while working out. Get some good clothing that wicks away your sweat. I love a cute tank top and capri pants! I always wear a dri fit hoodie or zip jacket over my tank when it’s cool. Having good socks, and ladies even a good bra is essential! I used to buy my workout shoes just based on looks, but I found a local store that can look at your feet and tell you what type of shoes are best for the way you walk and run. Then they recommend a couple different styles based on your feet. It really has made a difference in how my feet feel after a hard workout!
Having a good deodorant is also very necessary! I don’t want to start or end my workout without a good deodorant. Have you tried the new Degree MotionSense Dry Spray? As you move, Degree MotionSense releases extra bursts of freshness, so you can stay fresher longer. Plus, after your workout, you still feel fresh enough to wait on your shower if you have errands to run or things to do!
One of my favorite things about it, is that it goes on clear and you can’t see any trace of it! Plus, it smells great and comes in many scents! If you haven’t tried Fresh Energy it’s a great one to try!
Have Fun While Working Out
I’ve done some pretty fun workout classes. If you’ve ever done any kind of class that incorporates dance and you like to dance these classes are pretty fun and you can get a great workout in! I’ve done Zumba, R.I.P.P.E.D and Hip Hop.
You can watch some step-by-step dance tutorial videos that Becky G has done including the “Move It,” “Look Away,” and “1-2 Step.” Even dance gets your heart pumping! Whether you’re dancing, lifting weights, running, or doing barre, pilates, or hot yoga there are many forms of getting on the MOVE and getting your heart pumping!
Don’t Skip Out
It can be easy to skip out on a workout because you don’t think you have enough time to fit it in. I have an ideal workout situation which includes working out at a certain time each morning and going to my favorite classes at my gym where I have a gym membership. Let’s be honest, there are many days where this ideal situation just doesn’t happen.
Some days I have to make adjustments and one of the easiest ways for me to fit in a workout in a less-than-ideal way is for me to get up 30 minutes earlier than I normally do, change into my workout clothes straight from my pajamas, and do a workout video for 20-40 minutes. This isn’t my favorite, but it keeps me on track and a little time is better than nothing. I also save time by not getting ready at all before I workout and there is no drive time to the gym.
Do I want to do this everyday? No, I personally don’t because I thrive on group motivation. So gathering with others at my local gym really helps me and I have some friends that go to my gym and it’s fun to socialize while I workout!
Mix Things Up A Little
If you do the same workouts over and over it can get boring and your body also gets so used to the workout that your body will plateau. One reason I enjoy going to the gym is to take part in different classes such as the ones I mentioned before. Most trainers will tell you that it’s imperative that you mix it up! I like to do cardio and strength training mixed in with toning such as a Barre class. This gives me an all body workout without missing one important part.
Any athletic activity you can do outdoors is also fantastic to mix into a gym regimen. Running, walking, and biking are some of my favorites. Plus, you can often do these with friends or family to make it even more fun.
If you are working out at home look up some workouts on Pinterest and YouTube. I have found some great ones. I add these to my 4 workout videos and have a lot of at-home variety.
Keep MOVING, and remember ANY time spent exercising is better than NO time!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Lunchbox, LLC however all opinions are my own.
