If you’re working out in the best gym in the Philippines with the best trainers and the latest equipment, that should be enough to keep you motivated, right?
Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, it still isn’t. The most common one is the person doesn’t believe that he or she can stay fit. Fitness is all about keeping your body in the best shape, but there’s no point in having a gold membership in the best gym in the Philippines if you don’t have your mind set on getting and staying fit.
Getting into shape takes a lot of effort, but it’s very rewarding, to both your health and your confidence. Here are some tips to keep you motivated in staying fit:
Set Goals for Yourself
Before you started working out, you had something you wanted to achieve. It might be because you wanted to gain or lose weight, wanted to quit your unhealthy lifestyle, or another reason.
Regardless of what it is, if you have forgotten why you started in the first place and are doing it just because you have nothing else scheduled on your Wednesday nights, then it’s easy to lose motivation to give it your all.
Always aim for something new every once in a while. For example, an additional few pounds of weights every week, be able to run 10 minutes longer on the treadmill, or learn a new sport every 2 or 3 months. You’re more likely to stay in the game when you’re playing for something.
Treat Your Workout Sessions as a Part-Time Job
There is a difference in how you treat your job and your workout sessions.
Your job, you have to do because your company depends on you to do your work, and you can’t slack off. Your fitness, on the other hand, is something that you don’t necessarily have to give 100% for—no clients to please, and no deadlines to beat.
Big difference, and big mistake.
While it is true that you aren’t getting paid for staying fit, it’s also true that by doing so, you’re maintaining your body’s conditioning at a high level, which affects how you perform on a daily basis.
Start treating your fitness as a job on its own. No unneeded absences, and no excuses to not give it your all. If you think of it that way, you will always stay interested and motivated to get better, and both your body and mind will be as healthy as they can be.
Create a Good Playlist
Music is a wonderful yet mysterious thing. Some songs make you bob your head and snap your fingers, while other songs leave you confused as to who would write such music. Luckily, it fits with anything—workouts included.
If, for example, you’re going to hit the gym tomorrow, then it’s a good idea to create a playlist that contains tracks that you know would lift your spirits. Feel-good songs, something you can move to the beat of, or soundtrack from Rocky—really, anything.
The best gyms usually have a nice playlist playing while you work out, but there isn’t anything quite like your own.
Just make sure that the songs you choose are actually going to put you in a workout mood, and not lull you to sleepiness.
Challenge Yourself
You may get to a point where you hit a wall you can’t get over. You have followed all the instructions properly, but somehow, you can no longer progress any further. It’s frustrating, and you feel like quitting.
Always remember this: only you can decide what you can or cannot do. If your mind thinks that you pull something off, then it’s very possible that you actually can.
If you’re beginning to have trouble with maintaining your fitness, then find alternative methods, or try a new, more intense routine. Difficulty doesn’t mean that you have to stop there, it means that there’s something more to achieve; you have to try harder.
Reap the Benefits
You might have started working out because of your concerns with your weight, but that’s not the only benefit you get from it.
Now that you have a healthy lifestyle, your body is better than ever—your heart and lungs are stronger, and you have strengthened your mind to the point that you know that there isn’t anything that you can’t accomplish.
You will look better, too, and your confidence will rise.
And if those aren’t enough, you’re also going to get much better sleep—which is awesome enough on its own, but can never get good enough.
Key Takeaway
One begins a fitness regimen because they have a goal to achieve, but it’s easy to lose track of that along the way.
To avoid this, don’t let your mind lose focus, and always treat your fitness as something that couldn’t afford shortcomings from you. Find ways to make it more enjoyable, and never stop challenging yourself until you’re certain that you have reached your goal. Staying fit is very rewarding, so pour your heart into it—you will be glad that you did.