Exercise even if you only have 15 minutes
A short gym routine is better than nothing if you're
really strapped for time or just plain exhausted. If you don't have time to get
to your gym, but have 15 minutes before you have to shower to go meet your
friends for dinner, do some jumping jacks.
You'll feel better, especially if you spent your day sitting at a
computer and thinking about how you should really leave work in time to get to
the gym (but you didn’t!).
Invest in a fitness tracker
They're not cheap (plan to spend around $100 to $130), but
— they really do make you walk more, especially if you're the type of person
motivated by goals. You'd be surprised how little you walk in a day if you have
a desk job. You're supposed to walk 10,000 steps a day but if all you do is get
up in the morning, go to your cubicle, walk to and from your meetings, and then
go home, you probably only rack up about 4,000, 5,000 if you're lucky. I loved mine while it lasted – unfortunately,
it fell apart due to shoddy construction.
So keep your receipt for a refund if you decide to purchase!
Mix up your routine
Do yoga one day, interval training the next, and a light
run the following day. If your fitness routine doesn't bore you, you're more
likely to stick to it. If you enjoy trendy workouts, definitely hit up Insanity
or a body barre workout.
Focus on how great you’ll feel
Working out isn't always fun while you're doing it, but the endorphin high you get after — or
the other benefits, like a sound night of sleep, are.
Don’t wait for an occasion to get in
shape
If you only rush to the gym six weeks before you have a
tight dress to wear to a party (or your wedding or somebody else's wedding)
you'll kill yourself trying to meet unrealistic goals and feel miserable and be
no fun at all. Then when it's all over, of course, you won't want to go back to
working out! Fitness is a lifestyle, so make it a priority! Schedule your workouts on your calendar.
Eat real food
This is so true.
Don’t swear off alcohol or sweets or bread. (Especially don't ditch the
chocolate — that's too cruel.) You'll be miserable, binge and feel bad and
then you'll swear off all that food AGAIN and the cycle will repeat. You will feel worse every time! Don't do it. Everything in moderation.
Attempt to eat clean
What this means is that if you eat garbage, your body will
show it. If you eat whole, healthy,
fresh foods your body and soul will glow with health that gives you
endless energy. You will feel better and
be fueled properly for your workouts.
Keep weeknight drinking to a minimum
Weekdays are exhausting enough without alcohol. If you get
smashed on Tuesday, you're less likely to get up in time for your 7:30 barre
class on Wednesday — studies suggest a night of drinking can make people sleepy
for days afterwards.
Work out at home if you can’t get to
a gym
If you have cable, it probably comes with a whole slew of
secret workout classes you can do on-demand. This is a great option for when
you want to be active but don't want to leave your house. Grab a workout mat
and have fun.
Buy a foam roller
I swear by mine and know athletes who travel with theirs:)
For under $20 you can get a little device that, when used for a few
minutes after exercise, will smooth out knotted muscles and trigger points and
greatly reduce soreness. Use it on a
daily basis!
Exercise when you’re sore
Don't do intense weightlifting by any means, but a light
run or brisk walk as part of an "active recovery" can help alleviate
sore muscles more quickly than sitting on your butt doing nothing.
Get some sleep
The more you work out, the more you'll want to get a good
night's sleep, so it's a self-perpetuating cycle. Plus your body needs rest for
recovery.
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