We’ve all experienced that daunting feeling before venturing into the gym to workout. Even the most dedicated of exercise enthusiasts suffers from a lack of motivation to wake up early to get that workout in, or stop by on their way home from work. Some people require very little inspiration to exercise, while others need it every day. You aren’t the only person who struggles to make it to the gym. There are many ways that people stay motivated to exercise that could potentially help you. Early Bird or Night Owl? First things first. You need to select a time of day where you are the most motivated to exercise. Those of you who are morning people might find that you have the most energy to dedicate to exercise in the morning, whereas night owls may find their prime time to get moving is at night. At Warrior Packs we try to provide a variety of classes in both the morning and night to ensure that everyone has an option that works for their schedule. Pack a Bag Packing your workout clothes or setting them out the night before you go to bed creates some accountability. How could you ignore the bag of gym clothes sitting beside you at your desk in the office? You can’t! Build that into your routine if you are the type of warrior that chooses to exercise at night. Setting your clothes out and packing a bag for a shower and work clothes the night before creates a hassle free, no excuses morning for those early risers. One of the biggest challenges is actually going and many people won’t take the few extra minutes needed to prepare the night before. Take the hassle out of it and you remove the barrier. Stay Realistic Set realistic expectations. Stay truthful to yourself about how much and when you can exercise and you will go back for more. While you might want to choose the most difficult class and come seven days a week your body might not be able to handle it. That’s why Warrior Packs offers three different levels of classes; Believe, Excel and Instinct; to meet the needs of every Warrior looking to maintain an exercise regimen. If you are new to exercise start with the Believe program to get started and increase your sessions as exercise becomes more of a staple in your life. Plan Ahead Plan your workout ahead of time. Whether you choose to participate in one of the challenging Warrior Pack classes or you exercise on your own, take the time to plan it out. Many of us don’t exercise because we don’t want to think about it. Take the thinking out of it by going to a Warrior Pack class, or creating your workout program ahead of time. Then all you have to do is follow the program. Make it a Date Exercise with others! The gym can be a friendly place once you get past all of the fancy equipment. If you don’t have a friend to go with you try to meet other people at group fitness classes. If you do have someone to go with you make a standing date to meet at the workout together. This will help pass the time, make your workout more entertaining and you can push each other. Dress for You Although it may seem silly, what you choose to wear to exercise can also impact your workout performance. Wearing tight restrictive clothing or excessively loose, baggy clothing can impair your ability to participate in exercise effectively. Wearing the right clothes can also put you in the right mental state to exercise. Wear something that you are comfortable moving around in. If you are constantly focused on how the clothes look and feel, rather than how much you’re sweating, you are less likely to enjoy exercise and continue to return to the gym. Forget about the clothes and focus on you! Eat and Drink One of the biggest mistakes you can make when you exercise regularly or are returning to an exercise program is to skip meals and not drink enough water. If you are a morning warrior it’s important to eat something prior to your workout. Some good examples are bananas, apples, nut butter, or whole grain toast. Make sure to drink some water prior to exercise and during. Then continue to hydrate throughout the day, especially in the hour post exercise. For those who exercise during the day you should follow the same rules and it’s always important to follow up exercise with a good meal with a balance of fruit, vegetables and proteins. Reward Yourself! Your first thought might have been to reward yourself with a big donut or cheeseburger, but it’s not that kind of reward. Think about something you really want, like a new pair of shoes, to take a trip, or a Fitbit. Once you choose something that you’ve been desiring make that your reward. After you set your expectations and goals, choose a reward, work hard to meet it and if you do go get those shoes! If that doesn’t work try choosing a different reward next time that might be more motivating. Be Positive Staying positive is the most difficult part of an exercise regime. There will be times when you feel like you aren’t making progress. You may feel defeated or challenged beyond your comfort zone. It’s important to remember that every bit of effort no matter how small counts toward your greater goal: to live a healthier lifestyle. By taking the steps to engage in a regular exercise program staying positive will become easier. There are a variety of methods to stay motivated to exercise. Whether you choose to exercise with the Warrior Pack or on your own try to remove those barriers to exercise. Working out with Warrior Pack fitness classes will help those of you who need that push! Contact us today to get started.