Taking the decision to start exercising is not all that easy for everyone. Many of us are already used to being spoiled and lazy, we’d take snacks and DVDs over the gym any day!
Here are the essential tips to get you to move it, and motivate yourself to hit the gym:
1- Mini-steps
Start taking mini-steps in your daily routines, such a parking 2 minutes far and walking the distance, taking the stairs and walking to the destinations that are 5-10 minutes from home.
2- Small workouts
Start with small workouts of 20-30 minutes every other day, like a full body workout at home, or a 30 minutes jogging session around the street 3 or 4 times a week.
3- Pay for your training
Overcome procrastination through signing up into classes with definite schedules or booking private training sessions. Having a schedule will motivate you not to miss.
4- Get a gym partner
Partner up with a sibling or a friend. Having a workout partner will motivate you both to stick to a workout routine.
5- Increase intensity
Define an increasingly intense workout schedule starting with 30 minutes 3 times a week for a first week, up to 5 hours over 5 days a week for a 10th week (for example).
6- Reward your efforts
Reward your efforts with a shopping trip or great desserts every 2 or 3 weeks of flawless commitment.
7- Sign up for activities
Sign up to a gym with interesting activities encompassing swimming, Jacuzzi, horseback riding and group activities such as dancing, tennis and other activities where friends can motivate each other and compete.
8- Exercise in public
Make your commitment to exercising public, your family and your friends will be soon pushing you to commit and embarrassing you not to miss. (Good use of emotional blackmail!)
9- Inform yourself
Inform yourself on the benefits of exercising, notably on the aesthetic effects it will have on your body. Discuss it with your coach, the lure of being able to transform your body as you please, never fails.
10- Overcome laziness
Stop renting DVDs and start organizing outdoors activities and other physically challenging fun times with your friends! Nothing like a collective burn of calories!
Patricia I Issa
Belle Beirut Team
