Red Hot Mamas In Charge of Change.
By: Guest Author
Published: November 10, 2021
Written by Jason Hopkins- Guest Contributor
There’s no denying that working out regularly is one of the best habits you could ever develop. It helps you look better, feel better about yourself, and become much stronger and more resilient. Apart from this, exercise can slow bone loss after menopause, which could drastically reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Well, if everything is so simple, why is it so hard to do this consistently?
The answer is quite simple – long-term benefits usually come at the expense of short-term sacrifices. Sure, it’s better to be strong, fit, and healthy, but it’s also easier to stay in bed than go to the gym. So, in order to make a good choice, you need to act against your immediate impulse to take a shortcut, which is not an easy thing to do.
Until you reach the point where the results drive you forward, you’ll have to motivate yourself to work out. Here are several tips to help you out.
The Buddy System
The buddy system is such an effective workout method because it turns your training into social interaction. First of all, not wanting to let your friend (training buddy) down will make you get out of bed and into the gym even on the worst of days. Second, it provides you with several training perks.
Spotting is a great safety measure, but it also allows you to check whether you’re doing exercises properly. In a way, it can even boost your performance. Also, knowing that you’re under the watchful eye of a training buddy will not allow you to get lazy and start skipping exercises/sets because you’re just not feeling it today.
Keep in mind that sometimes a training buddy may be a bit of a competition, which could give you a bit of extra motivation. Competing in who progressed more, lost more weight, or kept a more regular schedule at the end of the month could save you from a world of trouble.
Pick The Right Sport
While lifting weights is the go-to for people looking to get in shape or lose some weight, there are a lot more interesting options out there for you to choose from. While combining different types of physical activities is a good idea, picking the one you like the most and committing to it the hardest will give you the most consistent results.
Saying that you’re not into sports is a ridiculous statement, seeing as how this is an umbrella term consisting of so many different activities. Group sports and individual sports, for instance, are so different. Also, different sports provide you with various physical perks. For example, racquetball is one of the greatest forms of cardio exercise, and it’s far more interesting than running or swimming.
In the end, it doesn’t matter what the potential behind the sport is. Every sport has the potential to get you in shape. What makes the biggest difference is whether you can commit to it in the long run. Even the most effective training regimen is useless if you quit after a month. This is what you’re trying to avoid, and picking “your” sport is the way to do so.
Measure Your Progress
Hitting a progress plateau is easier than you expect it to be, which is why, sooner rather than later, you will start feeling like you’re no longer making any progress. The simplest way to debunk this misconception is with some hard facts and numbers.
So, start measuring your progress. If you’re using a scale as a measuring device, it is important that you get all the conditions right. First, you need to measure yourself every single day. Second, you need to have the exact time of the day right and have the apparel of the approximately same weight (your undies are the simplest way to get there). Finally, weekly fluctuations can be misleading and (in some scenarios) even disheartening. This is why it’s important that you get weekly averages.
Taking photos is another great idea. Taking a photo at the end of every week will show you that even though you’re no longer noticing progress, it’s still there.
One last thing worth mentioning here is taking body measures. When getting toned and losing fat, you’ll make tremendous progress. However, it might feel like you’re stagnating. This way, you will be able to set the records straight.
The Right Soundtrack
Having the right soundtrack can make you incredibly well motivated to push it to the limits. Sometimes, it can inspire you, which is hardly surprising seeing as how the right melody can move past our reasoning and appeal directly to our inspirational side.
There are a lot of great workout tunes that you can download, but this also comes down to your music taste and your preferred genre.
Other than this, it’s also important that you pick the proper audio hardware. For those working out at home, a Bluetooth speaker is probably the best option. Those going to the gym should get a wireless headset or earbuds.
Spend Some Money
Once you spend some money on supplements, sports equipment, gym membership, you might feel like you need to use them in order to get your money’s worth. It’s a simple trick but quite an effective one. Now, if you do decide to spend some money, what are the best ways to do so?
The first thing you can do is make an investment in some essential sports equipment. This depends on the sport that you’re in. At the very least, you’ll need quality shoes and apparel.
As far as the rest of your investments go, spending them on a professional trainer (at least a couple of training sessions), a nutritionist, and quality supplements is generally a good idea. Even before this, spending some money on quality ingredients will open up numerous options for healthier nutrition, even while on the go. This will also boost your results, which will drastically improve your motivation.
In Conclusion
Keep in mind that all the above-listed methods give merely an initial boost. After a while, this is supposed to become a part of your lifestyle, which means that inertia (autopilot) is supposed to take over. Once you start reaping the results of this healthy lifestyle, there will be no turning you back from the pursuit of even greater physical achievements.
Authors Bio
Jason is a business consultant with a passion for writing. Doing his research, exploring and writing are his favorite things to do. Besides that, he loves playing his guitar, cooking and traveling. His motto is “Write, Rewrite, When not writing or rewriting, read, I know of no shortcuts,” by Larry L. King
The views expressed herein this article, written by a guest contributor, do not necessarily represent those of the Red Hot Mamas organization. The content is for informational purposes and should not substitute the advice of your doctor.
