January 1, 2020:
“This year is going to be my year” you said to yourself. You recently signed up for a new fitness membership or better yet, you enrolled in a Medicare health plan that offers this benefit and costs you $0, so you told yourself that in 2020 you are going to lose those extra pounds that have been creeping up on you over the past few holidays and that more exercise in your life would naturally make you feel good.
March 1, 2020:
The new year is flying by and you still have not made a visit to the gym, but you have some of the best personal crisis excuses ever told. You are just too relaxed to exercise, you don’t have the time before your favorite TV show starts, you don’t know what to do when you get there, and you don’t like working out around the opposite sex, ewww. Besides, you kind of forgot you had this membership and you already weren’t going to the gym so what’s the difference right!
The truth is that you’re stuck in gridlock. Being and remaining undecided is a decision, and one of the top five excuses. Using some tips from personal trainers and wellness specialists can provide daily motivation to switch you to positive mode and appreciate your body.
- Find meaning – Aside from having stronger arms and dropping pant sizes, exercise has other amazing benefits. You feel more energized, have better body confidence and have improved your overall health. Ask yourself: Why do I work out? Visualizations, positive affirmations and mindfulness meditation can help strengthen your training regimen.
- Pump up the jams – Music can be an incredibly powerful mood booster. In fact, research has shown that listening to happy or sad music can actually directly alter the way you perceive the world—powerful stuff!
- Connect with friends – A workout buddy holds you accountable for the time and effort you put into your workouts—research proves it. Plus, socializing as you sweat can make exercise more fun. This is my personal favorite!
- Quit the negative self-talk – You have the whole world to beat you up, don’t do it to yourself. Chances are, you’re harder on yourself than anyone else in your life. But it’s time to reframe those negative thoughts. If you slipped up and had a donut for breakfast, don’t think, “I’m a failure.” Acknowledge that while you may have gone off course today, you will do better tomorrow.
- Avoid social media comparisons – As great as it is to find inspiration and support on Facebook and Instagram, seeing photos and status updates can trigger unhealthy thoughts or comparisons.
- Take a mental health day, too – Have you been feeling extremely stressed or overwhelmed? It’s no different than fighting the flu or food poisoning. It’s just as important to take a day for yourself if you need to.
- Focus on non-scale victories – Sure, watching the pounds drop on the scale is always rewarding, but there are other ways you can measure success. Whether it’s glowing skin or feeling better in your jeans, these off-the-scale victories show you just how far you’ve come.
Most of all, have fun. Smiling releases lots of endorphins!