How To Fight The Workout Slump!
By Aly Halter, Editor
September 27, 2009
Filed under Health & Fitness
Everyone needs ways to keep themselves motivated to keep exercising and working out. Here, we provide a few tips and tricks to keep yourself from indulging in too many “off” days.
Find a workout buddy - working out is SO much easier when you have someone huffing and puffing along with you! Some days, I really need someone there to kick my butt to get me in gear to get to the gym. Then, once I’m there and working out, I’m good to go!
Change up your routine - whether you switch up your venue (outside versus the gym), the amount of time for which you work out, change your regimen, or add some “fun” activities, it is a LOT easier to stay in shape when you change what you do. I’m a huge creature of habit, so this is hard for me, but I keep in mind that I need to change what I do from day to day to keep myself interested. Some tips, for example:
- Attend a fun fitness class! The schedule for Catawba’s fitness classes is posted on the Wellness Center website, and they offer yoga, total body workouts, and zumba classes. The YMCA also offers classes such as kickboxing, tae bo, and more.
- Alternate between easy/hard days – create a schedule for yourself. Plan to work out hard on certain days, then have easier days in between.
- TAKE A BREAK! Your muscles need time to recuperate between workouts. It’s important to give yourself and your body time out of the gym.
- Change your venue - when you switch every once in a while from the gym to running outside, for example, you can fight boredom from the same surroundings.
Make friends with the trainers to gain workout advice – Although it can get expensive to pay for a personal trainer (but they are FREE at Catawba!) as well as time-consuming, you can easily pick up advice from the trainers when they are around the gym. Don’t hesitate to ask questions of a trainer or someone who knows they look like they know what they’re doing!
Make use of the entertainment provided - Read a magazine or change the channel on the TV to something that will keep you interested and distracted from your workout.
Work towards something – Whether you create a challenge with a friend (nearby or far away!), register for a long race, or simply create a goal for yourself, you will be much more motivated to get to the gym in order to reach that goal. Work towards a certain weight, train for a race, or build that muscle by a certain date!
Good luck, and see you in the gym!
Loading ...