We all have
things that we would like to change about ourselves. Being at the Y everyday puts me in contact
with many people who want to get into shape, lose weight, etc. However, it seems that all-too-many think
that just by being at the gym, or doing a little bit at a low intensity, will
somehow make this happen. For somebody
just starting out, that can be a good way to begin, but then your body will
start to adapt to the new stimulus and there will be a point of diminishing
returns.
Here’s when you need to start
shaking things up. Throwing in short
stints of high-intensity can do wonders, whether that is with running, biking,
swimming, or whatever you’re doing. This
should increase your heart rate, get you sweating, and challenge you physically
and mentally. You can build on this as
you adapt. Going hard should hurt (in a
good way – always be attentive to your body for any oncoming injuries and do
this with good form), and it seems that’s what some try to avoid. It’s okay, though - go ahead and suffer a
little (in fact, embrace it!), and you’ll discover that the rewards are great!
As
I said, it can be not only physically challenging, but also mentally
challenging. So here are some ways that
you can get and stay motivated to stick with it:
1)
Set SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable,
realistic, timely)
2)
Write your goals down and post it where you can see it
everyday.
3)
Write your workouts/training plan down. If it’s in writing, it makes you a lot more
dedicated.
4)
Don’t leave any room for excuses. Make it a priority.
5)
Find a friend to workout with, or find another way to
hold yourself accountable, perhaps by posting on social media what your plans
are.
6)
Make it your routine/habit – motivation gets you start,
habit keeps you going.
7)
Sign up for a race!
Another great thing about all that
hard work is that you can reward yourself afterwards with a glass of low-fat
chocolate milk. After a frustrating
spring/super-long winter, I finally got some amazing training rides in
outdoors. Did it hurt? You bet!
But I feel like I’ve finally had some breakthroughs after a lot of
frustrations and tears (yup, it really happened). So I celebrated afterwards with a glass of
cold chocolate milk. Why? Because after all that work, I knew I needed
to refuel properly to reap the benefits of all that pain I put my body through. Who knew chocolate milk could taste so good
after a long, intense ride and run?!
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