Get your exercise motivation back with these top tips and tricks
Try these tips and tricks to make sure that - real emergencies aside - you'll never miss a sesh again.
1. Get buzz-y
If it’s your energy that’s letting you down, try some bee pollen. Used by athletes to boost endurance and resistance, bee pollen is one of the few non-meat sources of vitamin B12, which plays a key role in energy production in the body. Try sprinkling onto your morning cereal or into smoothies for an all-natural buzz.
2. Do what you love
Whether it’s hitting the gym, joining a zumba class, jogging or hula hooping, doing exercises that you find fun will help to maximise your staying power. Research from Cornell University also found that when you don't think of your workout as exercise, you’re less likely to stuff your face afterwards.
3. Grab a gadget
Investing in wearable workout equipment that allows you to monitor your progress can help motivate you to stick to your goals. Research in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity found that people who wore pedometers over a 12-week period increased their mood and exercise output, walking an extra 1,000 steps daily.
4. Do your prep
Take control and get yourself ready for your workout ahead of time. Whether this means packing your gym bag the night before or sleeping in your workout gear, take the “maybe” out of your workout and plan to succeed.
5. Earn while you burn
Apps such as Sweatcoin could help give you that much-needed incentive to get active. After tracking your activity, Sweatcoin converts your movement into a currency that you can spend on real life goods, service and experiences, including trainers and exercise classes
6. Just beet it
Try making a pre-workout shot using beetroots. A study from Kansas State University found that taking a shot of beetroot juice two hours pre-workout, helped to boost energy, endurance and stamina during exercise, helping users to exercise up to 16% longer.
7. Forget the time
Keep your eyes off the clock when exercising and not only will it help you stay “in the zone”, but you’ll get through the workout before you know it. If you’re on a machine, try putting something over the digital display to resist the temptation to peek.
8. Don't sweat a slipup
If you happen to miss a workout, don't beat yourself up. Instead use it as a learning exercise to see what went wrong. Did you go to bed too late? Did you eat the wrong food? Listen to your body and identify what went wrong so that you can bounce back stronger the next time.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor or healthcare provider before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.