How to Get Back on Track with Your Exercise Routine
The holidays have come and gone; and with them, usually goes our exercise routine. But with Healthy Weight Week this week, now is a good a time as any to get back at it.
I’ve noticed personally that if I get out of touch with my regimen – even if it’s just for a day or two – it usually takes a solid gym session, sometimes even two or three, to feel like I’m back in the swing of things.
If you’ve taken a more substantial break, it may be necessary to have a more drastic goal or event to kickstart you back into your routine.
Here are just a few ideas to get your fitness ball rolling.
Sign up for a race
There’s nothing like the inevitable deadline of race day to get you running again. It’s easy to get a running training schedule together so that you’re ready for the big day, but try to also have a goal in mind, like “I want to run this half-marathon in less than 2 hours” or “I want to run this 10K without stopping to walk.”
Not only do you have to typically pay for registration, but you can also train with a friend. Which brings us to…
Buddy up
Many people – both men and women – prefer working out with someone else rather than on their own. You’re more accountable for making it to the gym, class, or workout and it’s nice to have someone pushing you while you’re there.
So grab another friend who’s having a hard time getting back into the swing of things after the holidays and commit to helping each other.
Ready to get motivated to work out (even when you work from home)?
Learn 9 simple ways to get motivated to work out in this easy-to-follow infographic.
Commit to paying
Whether you want to get on a monthly payment plan with a gym or pay for a certain number of yoga classes, commit to paying for more than just a drop-in fee.
That way, you’ll have made the financial decision to keep up with your (new and improved) exercise regimen.
Bonus: Don’t forget!
These were just three of many tips of getting back into your routine, but there are a few more helpful hints that will make the transition even better:
- Drink plenty of water. Exercising more, you’ll need to watch your water intake that much more.
- Eat clean and healthy. Try to watch your sugar, salt, and (bad) fat intake especially.
- Get plenty of sleep. Adults need at least 7-8 hours of sleep to be fully rested, so make sure you’re catching those Z’s.
- Listen to your body and push it to its limit, but not over. In other words: if you need a rest day, take a rest day.
What are you going to start with to get back on track with your exercise routine?