Is the fit life for me? Is the fit life for you?
I am terrible, absolutely terrible at getting my fitness on. I have a gym membership that I’m paying each month and I barely can make it past 8 visits. I want to be better, I need to be better. Do you want to be better? Are you better than me? You probably are way better at getting to the gym compared to me. You probably have it all figured out but if you don’t, this piece is for me and you. We’re going to do this. We’re going to go to the gym and produce endorphins. If we’re not going to go to the gym, we’re going to work out in some way, shape, or form.
Why go to the gym? It doesn’t help that Instagram is filled with gorgeous girls that are posing in bikinis and flaunting their fab abs. Jealous much? Maybe a little. I follow Katya Henry, Brittany Renner, Cristina Capron, Whitney Simmons, and more—they all give me inspiration in one way or another. But really, why go to the gym? Go for you. Don’t go because you idolize these bodies on social media, go because you want to go and you want to work out. Don’t let the fit life get in the way of life—don’t compromise your health just because you want to look a certain way.
Schedule Time
Step one, make time. If you want to go to the gym and workout, you have to manage to find time to get to it. Some people can just drop everything and go to the gym… sometimes I’m that person but I would say that scheduling gets you into a habit. If you stick to plans then this should work out perfectly. By putting the gym on your calendar, you are dedicating a portion of your day to something you want to do. There are many times throughout the day that you can workout; there’s the morning if you want to get up before work or evening if you want to end the day. You could even go during the day if you have the chance. I know a few people that would take an early lunch at their desk and use the lunch hour to workout. You can make it work if you find the time that aligns perfectly in your schedule.
Motivation
This is the kicker. Find something that motivates you and makes you want to stick to your routine. If you aren’t working towards anything or have any goals, how are you going to stay on task? Consider muscle definition or bulking/leaning out. Maybe you have a favorite pair of jeans that you want to fit back into. Have a goal or something that you want to see at the end of the road. Your results should mean something to you. Don’t let the weight on the scale define anything, let the image you see and like define how you feel.
Gym Membership or Trainer
One choice you have is getting a membership or trainer. If you’re lucky, your gym offers training although I’m sure that price can vary and possibly hurt your heart a little. A gym membership is great and you can wager with the price if they really want you to commit and you’re not 100% sure. My gym, LA Fitness, has a women’s only room for working out which I love but it also has all the machines I need to utilize to get in a good workout. A trainer is something I have never had and I probably won’t ever invest because I can use my boyfriend for free. I think this is great for someone that has no idea what they are doing and they want to learn or they have specific goals that they want to get help with. Trainers are a great tool, I truly believe they can achieve the results that you want.
At-Home Workouts
If you can’t make it to the gym or you don’t want to sign-up for a membership, home workouts can be your best friend. You can easily invest in some dumbbells or resistance bands—Go to TJ Maxx, they have everything. I just splurged on Adidas workout leggings because TJ Maxx had them for super low prices. Back to the main point, at-home workouts are useful and can be utilized in many ways. If you go out to buy equipment, you can find workouts on the internet and apply those to your plan. There’s also apps with workouts like the Nike Training app which will leave you feeling it for the next few days. Also, DVD and BluRay videos will be your best friend and you can get a lot out of it.
Accountability
This is it, accountability is key. You have to hold yourself accountable for what you want to achieve. It’s not going to happen overnight and you have a responsibility to yourself if you want to make this commitment. If you don’t think that you alone can keep up with this task, talk to a friend or someone that will be blunt with you. I’m lucky enough to have a few people in my life that will keep it real with me—they don’t tell me I need to go to the gym or comment on my weight but they do ask if I have gone to the gym or if I’m going to go to the gym. See? Holding me accountable in some way because my reminder apps sure don’t. Make notes, make reminders, sets multiple alarms, do whatever you can to remind yourself that it’s time for the gym.
Fitness Apps
Fitness apps were touched on a little bit in the at-home workouts but they are very useful. There are so many fitness gurus with their own apps these days. Not only are there apps that provide you with workouts, there are also apps that will help you track your food and calories. You’re lucky if you find a fitness app that has it all and if you do, please share. The only training app I can vouch for is the Nike Training App which I’ve used and stacked up points back in the day because I was dedicated. These really come in handy when you have notifications on to remind you and reach out to you.
Healthy Eating
Consider incorporating healthy food into your diet to go alongside your fitness routine. You want to set yourself up to succeed so just remember you can out work a bad diet. It might seem cheaper to eat certain things but hop around from store to store—there are places that have reasonable prices for fruit, vegetables, and organic food. A great piece of advice: meal plan. You can have most of your week planned out by putting together meals. Just give it a thought, you don’t have to change your whole lifestyle.
What’s your plan?
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to considered your fitness routine. Not only do you have to incorporate what is listed above but food is a big thing. There’s a lot that goes into it but research, research, and research. Never settle for one source because there is so much out there. Make it your own, don’t ever settle for someone else’s plan because you have to figure out what works for you. Believe in yourself, think positive thoughts to that you’re not doubting yourself. Right now, I’m working on try to keep myself committed because I get reminded from my boyfriend and I have times written down in my planner. Consistency is hard. It’s hard to balance the gym with life, though. A balance will be found and I hope the best for you, too.
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