If you exercise at home or a gym, then you must have the basics down by now. You know how the workout routine works. But have you ever broken down the entire process and looked at the parts individually? If you haven’t, it is a good time to get to know your workout routine in detail and find out what works and what doesn’t.
A deeper understanding of a workout routine will help you in the future when you don’t feel like working out or when you think you have done so much, and you can’t see any results. It is hard to get yourself ready for the workout, especially if it is the holiday season. But if you know how to gear yourself up, you will have a much easier time convincing yourself to go to the gym. Even the smallest details like taking out your WOMEN BOTTOMS TIGHTS and putting them on can help make up your mind.
Mentioned below are some ways to gear yourself up for a workout:
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PREPARING FOR THE WORKOUT
A workout doesn’t start when you walk into your gym. It starts way before. A lot of people don’t realize this and wait until the last minute. This can create a lot of problems and hamper their regularity as well as their punctuality. If you have been avoiding the workout for weeks and finally decide to go, there could be delays. You might go in half an hour late and get only a little done before you walk out. This is the reason why most people start strong but find it hard to stick to their workout afterward. That is because there is no planning. If you prepare yourself for the gym beforehand, you have a better chance of making it on time, as your mind is prepared for it. Here is how you can prepare for your exercise routine:
SCHEDULE IT
The first thing that you have to do is to take out some time daily or even twice or thrice a week; whatever works for you and note it down on your calendar. Make it a priority on your schedule. You can also keep reminders for it so that even if you forget, your mobile can alert you. It is highly important that you dedicate some time for a workout. You probably look at your calendar a couple of times every day. This will ensure that every time you look at it, you will see the schedule that you have created for your workout, and this will increase your motivation to go.
PLAN AHEAD
Most people think about what to do once they reach their gym or their exercise mats. There is nothing wrong with this practice. What is better, though, is to make a plan for the entire week or the month and write down what you have to do. This is called mental training, and it will help you carry on with your schedule for a long time to come. You can note things like:
- What type of workout you are doing (e.g., cardio, strength, yoga, pilates, etc.)
- Your goal for that workout (e.g., to build endurance, work on flexibility, build strength, etc.)
- The time you will spend on your workout.
- Exactly what you will do during your workout (e.g., running intervals on the treadmill for 30 minutes and 30 minutes doing upper body strength exercises)
GEAR UP
Most people like to wait until the last minute before looking for their workout equipment or gear and waste time. What you need to do is to prepare your gym bag the night before. It should contain everything that you need so that you don’t have to waste time before or during the workout. It will also help you as you no longer would be able to make excuses for not working out. Your gym bag might include your workout clothes, water bottle, snacks, heart rate monitor, etc.
PREPARE YOUR BODY
You can’t just show up at your gym and start using the treadmill or any other equipment. You need to make sure that your body is prepared for the exercise ahead. This means that you have to make sure that you are properly hydrated and well-fueled before the workout. Have a light snack and drink water an hour or two before the workout. There are a lot of options like fruits or a sports drink that you can take. Also, if you have packed water and snacks for the workout, your body will respond to the exercise better.
STARTING YOUR WORKOUT
Once you have prepared your mind and body for the workout, it is time for the hardest part. Beginning the workout as planned. The initial phase is probably the most important part of it. Here is where the tiny voice inside your mind comes alive and starts giving you options of things you can do rather than put your body through a grueling exercise routine. This is where you ask yourself, ‘Am I going to do this or not?’ You get in your car and you find yourself stuck between going to the gym and going home. This is the time when you are at your most vulnerable, and the tiny voice inside your mind gets louder than ever. You start hearing things like:
- You are tired, why don’t you do this tomorrow when you are well-rested?
- You have worked so hard today, wouldn’t it be nice just to go home and watch TV?
- You know the workout is going to be hard, why even bother?
- You haven’t even lost any weight, which means this routine is not working.
- Do you really need to spend time exercising when you can do other fun things?
If you have prepared yourself according to the tips mentioned above, you will have an easier time silencing the tiny voice making excuses, and going through with your plan.
CONCLUSION
The above steps will help you make up your mind about exercising even before you set foot in the gym. This way, you can ensure that you visit your gym or your exercise mat on a regular basis and don’t lose motivation in the middle.