Even the most committed athletes lack the time or motivation to work out every now and then. Life can derail even the best-laid exercise plans, but that doesn’t mean you need to fall off the wagon completely. Unfortunately, though, people often make regular exercise far more complicated than it needs to be and, in many cases, plant obstacles in their own paths without realizing it.
Below, the personal trainers at Envision Fitness discuss three reasons why you might have trouble committing to your exercise routine and what you can do to make a change.
1. Your Exercise Schedule Isn’t Right for Your Lifestyle
Even the most well-intentioned exercise planning won’t work unless it fits into your lifestyle. Getting regular physical activity is a lifestyle habit, and for you to maintain that habit over the long-term, it’s critical that you find ways to make exercise a part of your daily routine.
While conventional exercise guidelines might call for hour-long workouts, five days a week, many people have neither the time nor the energy to train for an hour every day. The good news? Guidelines aren’t iron-clad rules, and if you can’t fit extensive workouts into your day, that’s totally fine. Do what works for you.
Shorter, more intense workouts can actually be more effective than lengthy training sessions, so create a doable workout schedule that you know will fit into your daily routine. Don’t estimate how much time you want to have; figure out how much time you actually have. That way, you’ll be less likely to throw in towel when you’re stressed about tending to a long list of obligations.
Keep in mind that with the right exercises, even a 15-20 minute workout is better than nothing at all. If you’re unsure of how to structure short workouts for maximum results, personal training can help you out!
2. Your Workouts Are Too Challenging
Though you might be capable of plowing through an intense workout, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Whether you’ve taken a break from exercise or you’re implementing healthier habits for the first time, doing too much too soon can quickly derail your exercise routine.
Rather than jumping into an intense or lengthy routine immediately, ease into your workouts. It takes time to build strength, stamina, and conditioning, and that looks different for everyone. Heed these tips to create a sustainable exercise habit you can stick to:
● Tailor your workouts to your current fitness level.
If you’ve been out of the game, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can jump right back into the workouts you did several years ago. Though you may have been in excellent shape back then, chances are those workouts no longer fit your current fitness level. Your body composition, energy levels, conditioning, strength, and mobility have likely changed, which means your training must change too.
● Don’t try to make up for “lost time”.
If you’ve gained weight or neglected exercise for a long time, you might be tempted to jump back in with a fervor to “make up for lost time.” However, that approach can set you up for problems because your body simply isn’t ready for that level of exercise. Instead, ease into a manageable exercise program that will allow you to build strength and stamina in a gradual, healthy manner.
● Understand more is not always better.
Many people make the mistake of thinking they can “force” their bodies to get in shape faster than is physiologically healthy. Doing more isn’t always better and in most cases, that approach ends up backfiring. Rather than achieving better results, you end up exhausted, with a sore, fatigued body that never fully recovers from your training.
Not sure how to create balance in your workouts so you can sustain your exercise habit long term? That’s what personal training is for! At Envision Fitness, we work with you to create a sustainable exercise program tailored to your current fitness level, needs, and goals.
If you’re more of a social exerciser, our group fitness classes are a great way to build accountability into your exercise habit. Our personal trainers take you through a carefully designed series of exercises (tailored to your individual abilities) to help you improve your strength, cardiovascular conditioning, coordination, and overall fitness.
3. You Struggle With Persistent Aches and Pains
When you’re living in pain — whether it’s from a headache, arthritis, injuries, or muscle soreness — just making it through the day can be a challenge. And adding exercise on top of it? The thought might send you reeling.
Having reservations about exercise because you’re worried it’ll make your pain worse is completely understandable. We’d never recommend you work through pain during your exercise routine. However, practicing regular exercise can actually improve certain conditions and, depending on your situation, you can find creative ways to keep yourself moving.
If you’re struggling with chronic aches and pains that prevent you from maintaining a regular exercise habit, talk to your doctor about what might be going on. If your pain is due to an injury, a professional diagnosis can help you identify your treatment options or ways to work around it.
Ready to Invest in Yourself? Schedule a Session at Envision Fitness Today
At Envision Fitness, we’re building a supportive community of like-minded individuals who are all working to change their lives for the better. It’s our goal to help Twin Cities residents change the trajectory of their lives, so they can become the healthiest, most confident versions of themselves. Through individualized personal training, nutrition coaching, weight loss classes, and group fitness classes, we’re ready to help you take charge of your health.
Ready to become part of our community? Schedule a free consultation today! You can also call our Hopkins, MN location at 952-444-2791 or connect with us online to learn more.