Every year we come up with resolutions like ‘lose weight’ or ‘have abdominals’, but if you’re reading this post, chances are that you’ll find it hard to respect such resolutions.
Today, I want to drill down on fitness-related resolutions, and specifically, how to stay committed to exercise. To do so, we’re going to divide the topic in two separate posts in order to develop sufficiently on every strategy.
What you will find:
A) Pick Something You’ll Enjoy, B) Make a Habit of it, C) Find an Accountability Partner
A) Pick Something You’ll Enjoy
This sounds obvious, but it’s probably the number one reason guys don’t stick with their fitness routine — they pick something they hate doing. Maybe you read about how great Crossfit is for getting into shape. Or perhaps you were impressed with the idea of putting on 30 pounds of muscle by lifting heavy this year. Still, the best exercise routine isn’t going to do any good if it doesn’t inspire you to stick with it.
Getting in shape doesn’t have to be a case of “take your medicine.” There’s no reason you shouldn’t enjoy or even look forward to exercising. So, whether it’s jogging, racquetball, Krav Maga, hiking, baseball or even lifting weights, find an activity you like. Maybe it’s not something that you do at the gym. All the better — that’s money saved!
B) Make a Habit Out of Your Activity
Another mistake we tend to make is trying to squeeze exercise into our schedules here and there. Worse yet, you might only work out when the spirit moves you. Instead, you need to make it a probable part of your schedule. You need to make it a routine — a habit. Just trying to haphazardly fit it in where you can probably won’t work, since it’s already a lower priority than what you already have planned. So how do you do best fit exercise into what’s probably an already busy schedule?
When you’re exercising, you need to work out at least three times a week. More is better, provided that you might take two separate days off, though some guys do light physical activity, such as a long walk or yoga on their “off” day. Sit down and take a look at your schedule. What time of day is most realistic for you to regularly work out? Maybe you have to get up an hour early or rearrange some other parts of your schedule. Once you decide what you’re going to do, etch it in stone and stick to it. The question isn’t simply how to stay committed to exercise, but how to get the most from that commitment. To be effective, your exercise routine should be no more negotiable than going to work in the morning.
C) Find an Accountability Partner
Even better than an accountability partner is a ‘gym buddy’ (even if the gym is your place or a public space). Find someone who is into the same exercises as you and shares your commitment to staying healthy. Hopefully this person will be more motivated than you are, but if they’re not, don’t worry. You’d be surprised just how big of a difference it can make in the long term. On days when he doesn’t want to go, you keep him on point, and he’ll do the same for you. More than just getting you to train, you can really deepen and strengthen a friendship you already have or build a new one.
Think about whom you know. Has anyone else mentioned a strong desire to get into shape next year? Do you have a friend you’d like to see more, ideally someone who has common interests in terms of exercise and activity? Even joining an intramural sports team can provide you with a number of accountability partners you didn’t know last week. There’s no right way to develop this accountability — it’s only important that you have it.
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 stay tuned for part 2 of ‘How to stick to your fitness routine’.
Budget Fitness 