"For many of us, exercising isn’t always an easy task, and sometimes it takes effort to schedule that 30-minute sweat session. Time, convenience, and cost can make it a challenge to start and stick to a new workout routine, so we asked fitness expert Anita Mirchandani to share 6 tips to help keep you motivated.
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1. Make it easy.
Many studios offer a good variety of morning, lunchtime, and evening classes, but if getting to a class or the gym isn’t convenient, you’re more likely to skip your workout. Make things easy and locate an option near your home or office. Using sites like FitMapped will help you find fitness options easily based on neighborhood, price point, and activity.
2. Incorporate more steps into your regular routine.
If you are already making time for your usual activities, incorporate fitness by walking or jogging to and/or from where you’re going. Consider a pedometer to set goals for yourself and track your steps. Before you know it, walking instead of driving, taking the stairs, and doing things to increase your step count will become second nature. This regular rhythm of being active will become habit and you’ll want to continue moving and working out even more. It will fill weird when you go a day without much activity.
3. Work out with your friends.
Knowing that a friend is waiting will make the experience a lot more fun, and provide some accountability. It’s easy to sleep in, but no one wants to bail on a friend. If you and the girls already have plans for dinner or drinks, pop into a barre class before heading to the bar and forgo the bulky gym bag by leaving out your jeans and simply packing a fresh tank, dry shampoo, deodorant, and sandals—you can transition from gym to gastropub in no time.
4. Make a fitness goal for yourself.
Having a fitness goal is a great way to stay focused and maintain a consistent fitness routine. No matter what the goal may be, it will take effort to achieve it and keep you engaged along the way. Are you trying to get stronger? Do you want to complete twenty push-ups? Working towards a goal is always motivating.
5. Can’t make it to the gym or a class? Take advantage of an online workout!
The online fitness market has recently exploded with a variety of options like Fitness Blender, Booya Fitness, the BeFit channel on Youtube, and BodyRock.tv offer free workouts you can do in the comfort of your own home. A routine of combining a couple of high intensity exercises and yoga stretches can get you burning for little as 10 minutes! No matter how much time you have, there is a way to check the workout box. Again, we find the simple act of putting on fitness attire tricks the mind into thinking it’s time for exercise, so regularly wearing a stylish athletic shirt or pants, even when paired with your regular clothes, will remind you to get off the sofa and get moving, even if it’s in your home.
6. Download fitness apps to stay motivated
Can’t afford a personal trainer? No worries! There are lots of fitness applications that provide personal training coaching. Apps like Sworkit and Gain Fitness provide a variety of exercises or customized workouts based on how much time you have to workout. Gain Fitness even comes with audio instructions and motivation cues. You can decide if you want to target tone or to try a strength conditioning routine. It’s a personal trainer at your fingertips! Click on items in the image above to shop!
Anita Mirchandani, M.S, R.D, C.D.N received a B.A. from NYU and a M.S. in Clinical Nutrition from NYU. After finishing her studies and completing a dietetic internship at New York-Presbyterian hospital in 2011, Anita is now a practicing Registered Dietitian. Anita also maintains current fitness certifications in indoor cycling, kickboxing, group exercise, and personal training. In 2012, Anita co-founded FitMapped, a “trip advisor” for fitness and most recently, has launched Sweat Sync, a social platform for fitness seekers. Follow @FitNutAnita or @FiTMAPPED for interesting fitness and nutrition content.