Fitness and incorporating exercise into your daily life is a journey, and like any journey, it’s important that you enjoy the ride! Here are a few things I’ve learned on my journey to fitness over the years that I want to share with you.
Finding the Right Gym is Key
If you’re spending money on a gym membership every month, it’s important that you actually GO! The average gym attrition rate is somewhere between 20 and 25%! Seriously, it’s that low! So how do you make sure you’re apart of the 25% of people that continue to use your membership? You find a place you feel comfortable. You should also visit the prospect gym during the times you plan on working out. This way you can get an idea for how busy it will be and if you will feel comfortable. Also, pay attention to the “culture” of the club. You want to make sure you fit in and can see yourself thriving there.
Supportive Workout Buddies Make All the Difference
Exercise + friends = a powerful combination!
Exercising daily and spending time with friends are two of the best things you can do for your health. So why not combine the two?! You’ll likely enjoy your workout more if you get to experience it with a friend! Furthermore, if you struggle with motivation a workout buddy may be just the thing you need. It’s a lot harder to talk yourself out of a workout when you’ll be meeting a friend there. There is accountability in numbers people!
Educate Yourself on All Things Fitness
If you’re new to working out, one of the best things you can do for yourself is self educate. Learning how to eat properly and exercise efficiently will help you reach your goals faster. Just like any other new endeavour in life, you need to make a workout plan that is based on solid, factual information. Self-educating can also make you feel empowered and may help with some gym anxiety as well! A great resource that I used when I was beginning my fitness journey was Fitness Blender! It is a website created by a husband and wife team. They have uploaded hundreds of free workout videos to their website. These videos range from beginner to advanced and also come with an explanation as to why that workout is beneficial. They are also great with coaching cues, exercise regressions and progressions!
A Cute Gym Outfit Goes A Long Way
This may seem trivial but.. ITS NOT. Dressing for the gym is like dressing for everyday life. The better you look, the better you’ll feel! I don’t know about you, but working out is always more fun when I look cute. Pick an outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident! I LOVE Old Navy’s active-wear. It’s reasonably priced, long lasting and always super flattering.
Remember It’s a Journey There Will be Ups and Downs
Getting fit is a journey. It takes time, dedication and practice. Ups and downs will be apart of our journey. Does anyone ever have a smooth ride to their destination? I don’t think so. But just remember that the toughest parts of your journey will be where you learn the most about yourself. Don’t lose sight of the goal, which is to develop healthy and sustainable lifestyle habits to produce positive changes to your body.
NO … Not Everyone in the Gym is Staring at You
This is a tough one. When I started working out I had some crazy gym anxiety. That self-conscious, confidence vanishing feeling you experience when faced with potentially intimidating, embarrassing or potentially awkward situation at the gym. I was so afraid to try anything new and was convinced that everyone was staring at me, judging me. First of all, this is not the case. Over the years, I’ve learned that gym goers are some of the most accepting people around. In most gyms there is very little judgement because everyone’s been in your shoes! Everyone remembers their starting point. Also, gym anxiety is not determined by one’s fitness level! Even veteran gym goers can experience this! A good tip if you struggle with gym anxiety is to write your workout down so you feel confident in what you’re going to be doing!
If you’re looking for ways to stay motivated on your fitness journey check out my tips here.
