Working out and getting fit is a great goal to have. Now that it’s January again, plenty of people decide to exercise more. Unfortunately, many people lose their motivation as the weeks drag on, and some stop their new routines completely by February.
One of the best ways to keep yourself motivated is to make sure that you enjoy your workouts. If you dread your daily workout, then it becomes much easier to find an excuse to skip it. Here are some tips to help you to have a more enjoyable session.
1. Don’t Push Too Much
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when working out is to start with a routine that’s too intense for them. Even if you can physically do it, a two-hour-long routine that wears you out simply isn’t enjoyable.
You’ve likely heard the adage “no pain, no gain” when it comes to exercise. It’s the idea that if your muscles don’t ache, then you aren’t working hard enough and should push yourself more. Well, as it turns out, this isn’t accurate.
Pain is your body’s way of telling you that there’s something wrong. Exercising through the pain isn’t going to improve your workout, it’s just going to make your workout more unpleasant and potentially cause an injury. This is especially true when you’ve just started and don’t know your limits yet.
Rather than jumping straight into an intense and painful workout, start small. Mix up your exercises, but do things that you enjoy. Go for a short walk one day instead of set exercises, or do more exercises that you find fun.
Unless you’re training for a specific look or task, you shouldn’t feel tied to the most effective workout, just go for things that you enjoy and you’re more likely to stick to it. Up the challenge as time goes on, but don’t feel pressured to push yourself too much.
2. Workout With a Friend
A workout buddy can have a twofold effect on your motivation and enjoyment. First, if you arrange to join someone at the gym, you feel more accountable to them and you don’t want to let them down.
Secondly, a friend can make your workout less of a chore and more of a fun activity. Spend a little time just hanging out with each other, so you can relax before or after working out. Also, if you like going jogging or cycling, then a friend can help you to feel safer.
3. Make Sure You’re Comfortable
As mentioned before, pain and discomfort during your workout aren’t just unpleasant, it can be a sign that you’re pushing yourself too much. But you can reduce the amount of discomfort that you feel during your workout, making it easier for you to enjoy yourself.
Proper workout clothes with a wicking effect will let your sweat run off you, rather than soaking in and giving you that nasty swampy feeling. You should also keep hydrated. When you work out and sweat, you lose salts and electrolytes as well as water, which can give you headaches. Use a hydrate drink mix instead of just water to reduce this issue and to make your workout more comfortable.
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