5 Ways to Sustain Your Healthy Exercise Habits

3001Fitness • Jun 22, 2018

When I worked my corporate job before becoming a fitness coach, one of my biggest struggles was exercising regularly. I would go through “spurs” of time where I’d be ON MY GAME, going to the gym 5 days a week feeling super motivated and accomplished. Then shit would hit the fan at work, or I’d go on vacation, and it screwed up my entire routine. Before I knew it, something else would “come up” and my workout plans would get put on the back burner again. After a while I felt like all the progress I made previously just to waste, and it was hard to get my butt back in gear. In retrospect I probably should have hired a coach to get me through some of these challenges! (no pun intended)… But eventually I figured out a “recipe” that worked.

 

I feel like at least half of the clients we talk to at Core Principles share a similar experience at one point or another. They know exercise is important for their health and do their best to keep it consistent. But then life happens… a kid gets sick, work gets crazy, the zombie apocalypse happens (ok maybe not yet), and they fall off the wagon.

 

Whether or not that has happened to you, we wanted to share some real-life practical solutions that will help you stay on track with your workout regime, and make it easier to get back on the healthy train by changing your attitude and the way we think about exercise.

 

  • Slow and Steady Wins the Race – whether you’re exercising for the first time in your life or just getting back into a healthy routine it’s wise to ease into it and then gradually advance. The last thing you want to do is add another major stressor to your life and then feel disappointed when you feel like you can’t execute. You may want to think about how much time you can devote to exercise (realistically) and set a baseline. If you end up exercising one to two days a week to start, that’s good ENOUGH! The key is to get in a habit of it and progress when you’re ready.

 

  • Do something you truly enjoy – If you love nature and hiking is YOUR thing, go for it! Incorporating fun into your exercise routine is important because you’re more likely to stick with something that brings you joy. If hopping on the elliptical for 45 min feels like a chore, maybe it’s time to switch it up and find a fun physical activity that you can look forward to!

 

  • Hold yourself accountable – Or better yet, have someone hold you accountable (a coach at Core Principles maybe??). If your goal is to exercise 2 x per week, write it down in your calendar, set an alert and be sure to check it off your official “to do” list. Another idea, is to find an accountability buddy who is just as serious about exercising as you, and will check in with you on the days/times when you’re supposed to work out. This can be a friend, family member, a spouse, or an accountability coach at your gym that will work with you to make sure your health goals are a priority.

 

  • Get creative – if for whatever reason, you’re not able to fit in your weekly workout session, find something else that will get you active and moving. This can be as easy as taking a walk around a block between work meetings, walking up a flight of stairs instead of taking an elevator, walking vs driving to the grocery store, using a standing desk at work, or whatever you feel like doing! The objective is to get you off your booty and do something physical. Believe it or not, these small activities can really add up and before you know it you’ve created your own little workout by tweaking a few things in your daily routine!

 

  • Change your mindset – the way you think about exercise can really impact your behavior and workout habits. If you miss a week, month or haven’t exercised years don’t get discouraged or feel like you can’t get there. You CAN always start fresh, and build those healthy exercise habits overtime as long as you’re ready and willing to make a commitment and put forth your best effort. For great results we recommend working with a coach or a professional that will meet you where you’re at (your current fitness level, abilities, limitations etc.) So don’t wait any longer, go get what you want and live the fulfilling, healthy life you deserve!

 

For more tips on exercise, healthy living and nutrition please email us at info@coreprinciples-sc.com.

 

– Coach Jojo

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