How To Stick To a Workout Plan

In last week’s post, I mentioned a couple of tips to help newbies stick to their fitness routine. I recognize, however, that a couple of sentences just won’t cut it. Starting on a fitness journey is a massive endeavor. There are new habits to create and facts to learn regarding nutrition. Because of this, I am detailing below the tactics I have utilized to stick to a fitness and nutrition routine.

Get Excited about Working Out

When beginning a fitness routine, the main struggle is often connected to a lack of motivation or desire to actually exercise. Finding a style of exercise that you truly enjoy and can look forward to is the best way to combat that. For me, that has been weightlifting and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). For you, it might be running, yoga, or power lifting.

If you’re not sure which type of exercise is the best for you, take various classes at your gym. If you’re interested in a certain style of exercise but don’t want to commit to a membership, smaller gyms and boutiques tend to offer a free or reduced-rate trial. Martial arts gyms tend to have a free class or week, and I was able to get a discounted month-long trial to a Bikram Yoga gym via Groupon.

Schedule the Workout

This may very well be key, especially when excitement fades or work-life becomes a little too hectic. Make sure to schedule your workout when you will have minimal distractions and excuses.

Eventually, exercise will become second nature and not making it to the gym simply isn’t an option. Getting to that point, however, takes time. You might have schedule your workouts first thing in the morning or during your lunch break.

Make Time for Meal Prepping

I can tell you from personal experience that the amount of exercise you do will not counteract the food you choose to eat. Given that our daily lives can get the better of us, it is imperative to grocery shop so that healthy items fill your home, and have enough tupperware to prep all of the meals.

Meal prepping truly makes life easier by not having to worry about what you’re going to eat or having to cook something last minute. (Or if you’re really tired, you won’t be tempted to eat out where you can’t control the quality of ingredients and portion size.)

In fact, meal prepping for the week or next couple of days is a great way to save time, allowing you to have more time to get things done or simply relax.

Use Fun Fitness Apps

The right apps could help you stay motivated and further enjoy the process. My favorite is Fitbit. The accompanying watch tracks my steps, showing me how active I am throughout the day.The water tracking feature makes the app, though. It’s visual and has a cute design with empty cups that fill up as you drink more water throughout the day. It makes getting enough water in more of a game.

Sometimes it feels like you haven’t made any progress, and being able to check your Fitbit app or MyFitnessPal will show you how far you’ve come. Tracking meals is also a great way to learn about portion control and to find out how much you really are eating.

Ultimately, everyone’s relationship with fitness and health is different. This is what has worked for me.

What keeps you consistent with your workout plan?

Happy lifting,

TheWritingSol