10 tricks motivating you to exercise
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10 tricks motivating you to exercise
Motivation is a funny thing. Each of us has triggers for what inspires us to do certain activities. When it comes to exercise, many Americans need an extra dose of whatever it is that may motivate them to move more. The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, agrees - Americans can do a much better job of exercising and being physically fit. For example:
· Only one in three children are physically active every day.
· Less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity every day and only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week.
· Only 35-44% of adults 75 years or older are physically active, and 28-34% of adults ages 65-74 are physically active.
· More than 80% of adults do not meet the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities, and more than 80% of adolescents do not do enough aerobic physical activity meet the guidelines for youth.
We have a lot of work ahead of us getting in better shape but with willpower, motivation and self-determination, it can be accomplished. Here are 10 tricks on how to be inspired to get physically fit:
1. Wear workout clothes – When at home dress in casual, workout clothing conducive to exercise – shorts or yoga pants, t-shirt and gym shoes, can help inspire and attire you in clothing that makes it easy to workout in.
2. Ask yourself – “Will I regret skipping this workout?” - If you get into the habit of making excuses of why you can’t exercise on any given day, pretty soon you are hardly exercising at all. Keep excuses to a bare minimum and always look at missing out on a workout as one less day to get yourself in shape.
3. Join a group fitness class – Some people are motivated when working out with a group. The energy of the group can keep you going when you want to quit – no one wants to be seen as a quitter.
4. Become addicted to the post-exercise endorphin release – You may feel the grind and pain during the workout but afterwards, it’s pure pleasure thanks to the body’s release of the feel-good endorphins. Your energy level, alertness, and pride in yourself will result in surpassing any feelings of ambivalence towards exercising.
5. Use your imagination pretending you’re a star athlete – I know this sounds a little crazy, but sometimes you have to have that far-fetched motivator keeping you inspired when little else does.
6. Challenge yourself – Instead of doing the 10 regular daily pushups, go for 12 instead. That would be a micro-challenge. Or go for a macro-challenge by instead of the daily 30 minute, 3 mile per hour walk, train for a 5- or 10-K walk/run by increasing the duration, time and intensity of those walks.
7. Listen to audiobooks or music while working out – Having an audiobook to listen to while exercising can keep you motivated to see what happens in the next chapter. Music is the universal language and can be very inspiring in working up a sweat.
8. Hang out with high-energy people – We all know that person who has oozes energy. That’s the person you want to exercise who can inspire you to keep up and encourage you in your efforts to get in shape.
9. Notice how much stronger and fit you are becoming – Remember how you felt and looked when you hardly ever exercised? Do you want to go back to that? Take pride that your body is responding to physical activity by becoming stronger and looking more fit.
10. Remember why you started on this journey – Remember when you’d look at yourself in pictures and feel embarrassed or try on clothing that didn’t fit well because of not being in shape? Or maybe you avoided wearing shorts or participating in activities because you felt you didn’t look good enough? Whenever you lack motivation, remind yourself the reason for starting an exercise regimen. Is it worth giving up all the hard work and effort you put into getting where you’re at and do you really want to start all over again?