Tips to Not Give Up After Starting to Workout
Some people start going to the gym to lose weight and to improve their figure. Others do it to get into a better physical condition and a few do so due to medical recommendations.
It seems like most people begin training with great conviction, however, the motivation starts to diminish after a few days. It’s not uncommon to see people abandoning the gym after just a few weeks. In this article, we’ll share a few tips to keep you in the gym.
Recommendations to keep going to the gym
Set goals you can achieve
Most people abandon physical activities due to a lack of motivation. Therefore, it’s important to keep your mind on the reasons why you decided to start going to the gym. This will help you maintain your motivation.
It’s also important to set concrete and achievable goals.
Do not compare your fitness or progress with other people at the gym. Nobody gets fit from one day to another. Each person is different. The results of your perseverance and effort will only be visible after a considerable period of time.
It’s best to set small goals with precise time limits. You can aim, for example, to lose 4 pounds in a month. All you then have to do is work towards that goal in the gym and consume a healthy diet.
The best motivation to move forward will be to verify that you can reach your goals. It’s important to periodically check your weight to see if you’re on the way to reaching your objectives.
Keep in mind that changes occur gradually. There are no miracle results, just with many other aspects of life.
Find a nearby gym
The distance you have to travel to get to your gym could be a great ally or your worst enemy. If you have to spend a lot of time in a car or on the bus to get to your gym, it will be easier to lose motivation and find excuses not to do so.
It is best to find a gym that is close to either your work or home. If this advice is followed you will never have to worry about the weather or the traffic becoming an obstacle to exercise.
It’s also important to find a good time to train. Some people believe the best time to train is early in the morning. Early morning workouts can be a great energy boost for the rest of the day.
If you cannot go to the gym in the morning, it’s best to avoid going very late at night. In addition to your physical exhaustion, physical exercise makes the body more alert, making it hard to fall asleep. Ideally, you should leave the gym at least two hours before going to bed.
The price matters
Another factor to keep in mind is the cost of the gym. High-end training centers can be very tempting but they tend to be rather expensive. Over the months the expense can start to add up. This is another reason why some people abandon the gym.
It is best to find a gym that fits your budget. The monthly fee should not become an excuse for you to stop going.
It is also wise to pay your gym fees every month rather than once a year. After paying for a whole year, people tend to forget about the expense. However, if you pay on a monthly basis, you will be more inclined to get your money’s worth for the gym.
Buy suitable clothes for the gym
Buying suitable clothes for the gym can be a great motivation that will prevent you from abandoning your routine. Putting on ugly, old clothes to train is a bad idea. It’s important to feel good about what you wear when going to the gym.
In conclusion, all of this advice will help you stay motivated for a longer period of time. However, keep in mind that you will have to put in the effort. Nothing worth getting comes without effort!
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Juan Antonio Moreno Murcia. Víctor M. González Escudero. Moisés Ambit Palazón. CSD. Guia de motivación para técnicos deportivos. Extraído de: http://www.csd.gob.es/csd/estaticos/dep-escolar/guia-motivacion-tecnicos-deportivos.pdf
- Martínez López, Elkin. 2003. La salud como motivación para la práctica deportiva. Extraído de: http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/iat/v16n1/v16n1a4.pdf
- Rocío Parrado. La motivación en la actividad deportiva. Extraído de: http://copao.cop.es/files/contenidos/Profesion_Deportes/documentos_interes/LA_MOTIVACION_EN_LA_ACTIVIDAD_DEPORTIVA.pdf