Last time we presented you with 3 useful tips to improve your commitment and consistency when it comes to training. Today we analyse 3 additional strategies and essential topics to keep in mind in order to raise your spirit. Lets get started!
What you will find:
A) Select a convenient location, B) Reward yourself, C) Keep track of you progress
Select a Convenient Location
If your gym is 45 minutes away, that’s just one more reason to not go there. It doesn’t matter how good it is. If you’re realistically not going to make the commute, it’s not the right gym for you. A good rule of thumb is to find a gym that’s within 20 minutes of you, but the closer the better. All things being equal, select the gym closest to you. But if there’s a truly great gym 20 minutes away and a mediocre one ten minutes away, go ahead and splurge on the good gym — but be honest with yourself about whether you’re actually going to make the trip.
Reward yourself
Simply giving yourself a mental (or even a literal) pat on the back when you meet your fitness goals is a great way to stay motivated. Many men are too reticent to praise themselves or acknowledge their achievements, but it’s such an important part of recognizing when you take care of yourself.
You can also reward yourself in more material ways. Sticking to fitness goals for a week can be a reason to have a Saturday night burger, fries and shake meal. Sticking to them for 90 days means you can buy some nice new running shoes or more expensive equipment for your chosen form of exercise. Positive reinforcement can work wonders in helping you to meet your goals and stay on task.
Some guys also like to add in some negative reinforcement. Making it sting a little when you stumble can be a good way to remind yourself to stay the course.
Take Pictures of Yourself
A little egotistical, right? But these photos are just for you. Because the physical benefits of working out happen gradually, you’re probably not going to notice the results for a little while. You will, however, notice them if you take pictures on a regular basis. Posting them to Instagram is optional. These are for your own personal use.
Get a good picture of yourself from the front, from the side and from the back. Do it at least once a month, but more than once a week is probably unnecessary. Whenever I look back through my old folder of work out progress photos, I’m amazed at what I’ve done. Any time I need a little pick me up, exercise related or not, it’s nice to have that to look at for physical proof that my hard work hasn’t gone to waste. This isn’t about narcissism; it’s about documenting and recognizing your progress.
A month, two months, six months — the important part about working out is being consistent over long periods of time. It’s good for your health, it’s good for your state of mind, and it certainly isn’t going to hurt when it comes to talking to girls. The benefits are enormous: Studies even show that people who regularly work out earn more than those who don’t.
Now if that’s not a reason to stick to your gym routine, I don’t know what is. So, develop your plan, and stay healthy!
For more tips on how to stay committed to exercise and how to improve your social life in other ways, be sure and explore all of our posts and the many other topics we covered, particularly the dietary plans and the guidelines to see results and make your trainings worth the effort.
Budget Fitness 