The gym was busy this week. It’s New Years Resolution time and people are keen to get fit. I am one of those people that works out faithfully. I am at the gym every week, but I don’t like to act inconvenienced when its busy in January. I hear a lot of people making the comments about things calming down in a few weeks when all the ‘new people’ give up.
I was one of those people with a New Years Resolution six years ago and yes, it stuck and I still work out eight to ten times per week now.
So – why did it stick for me?
- I got help from a trainer
Nobody wants to hear this because it costs more money, but trainers are helpful. You don’t know what you don’t know and if you aren’t fit, you don’t know how to work out properly. You wouldn’t try to cut and highlight your own hair, you would go to a professional that could do it right. You wouldn’t try to fix your own car, you would go to a mechanic. So, why do you think you can fix your own body?
Maybe if you are already in good shape and you just want to do a little more, then you are fine on your own. But, if you are looking for a big transformation, then get help. This is not an ad by the way, I don’t train people for a living.
My trainer was able to educate me and answer the ‘why’ on so many things. I needed to fully understand what I was doing in my workouts in order for it to stick for me. I also needed feedback and encouragement.
I worked with her for over a year, but I saw a ton of a progress and learned how to design my own programs and workout on my own. This knowledge keeps me engaged in fitness six year later.
- I built in flexibility and variety
I work out in my home gym. I run outside. I work out at a gym on my lunch break near my office. I go to a yoga studio. I do boot camps outside in a friend’s backyard in the evenings. I do a bootcamp at a local recreation centre. I participate in outdoor free fitness events. I go to run clubs. I hike. I walk.
Am I bragging? Maybe a bit. But my point is that you need variety and flexibility to fit in enough movement throughout your week. Maybe walking or biking to work will work for you.
My job is completely sedentary, so I need to find movement everyday. I have a busy life and two kids so if I bank on working out at night every day it just won’t happen, something will get in the way.
So – I work out in the mornings before work, and at lunch and if I happen to miss both of those, I work out in the evenings. I work out on weekdays and then use weekends to make up my missed work outs. This allows me to work out eight to ten times a week and combat my sedentary job as well as be energetic with my kids.
- I stopped coming up with excuses
A lot of people make comments about the fact that I work out on my lunch break. I always hear, ‘I can’t do that’, ‘my job doesn’t allow for it’. No, actually, you don’t allow for it.
I used to be guilty of these excuses too. I would see coworkers going to the gym at lunch and think, ‘I don’t want to get all sweaty’. Or, ‘I won’t have time to eat my lunch’. Or, ‘I don’t want people from work to see me all sweaty while I am working out’. Or, ‘if I take the time to work out, I won’t get my work done and will have to stay late’.
If you really wanted to get some movement on your break, you would. First, you would actually prioritize taking a break and leaving the office (read: not taking your lunch break on your social media accounts on your phone at your desk). You will actually be way more productive in the afternoon after leaving at lunch. Working through your lunch just makes you slow and inefficient.
Second, you would find movement that works for you. No gym around? Go for a walk or run. Don’t want to get too sweaty? Then do a lighter exercise, like the elliptical trainer or bike instead of running. Get in your yoga or strength training. Some people find swimming with a swim cap works well at lunch or aquafit. I find that if I put my hair in a bun, then shower my body quickly afterwards and re-apply deodorant than I am fresh enough for the afternoon. It’s not like I ran a marathon at lunch!
So now that you’ve worked out on your lunch break, when do you eat? Eat whenever, it’s not your priority. Eat a protein bar on your walk back to your office. Drink a smoothie from a thermos during your meetings. Who cares?! You got a work out in. You can get a nice meal at dinner.
- Giving up on perfect
Not every workout will be your best ever. Maybe you like to work out for 45 minutes but you can’t fit it in on your lunch. Well, 25 minutes of movement is better than nothing. If you get too sweaty running on your lunch, then walk, or do some yoga or strength. Make it a priority to run in the evening or on the weekends when you have more time to stretch and shower afterwards and dry your hair.
In the End:
If you want to be successful you need to stop putting up your own barriers and make it happen. You can do this. It’s movement, not rocket science. You just need to give yourself as many options as possible to find movement in your life.
Learning to slay the beasts... 