We all know the benefits of exercising, but sometimes it is still really hard to get up and start moving. You can browse Instagram and read motivational quotes to your heart’s content, which may work for some; for others, we have to get a little more creative. When looking inside your heart for inspiration and motivation isn’t enough, we have other methods to get you psyched up to work out.
1. Get a workout buddy
Having a friend to work out with is a great way to keep both of you accountable. Everyone has their off days where they can’t find the willpower to go to the gym or work out, but having a friend to drag you along It also serves as a social activity to bond over sweat and soreness. There’s no ship more sturdy and solid than friendship.Having workout partner can also breed friendly competition between the two of you, encouraging you to work harder and get better results.
2. Punish yourself for not working out
Back in your childhood, you may have remembered having a swear jar that you had to put money into every time you cursed. This principle worked because of negative reinforcement. Swearing was associated with losing money, which is associated with depression, so naturally you’d swear less in order to avoid that feeling. This same concept can apply to workouts. Whenever you skip exercising, put some money into a jar to feel bad about yourself. Eventually if you skip enough times, you can use the jar money to buy an exercise machine for your home, which leads us to
3. Get a home gym
One of the most common excuses to working out is that people are too tired after work to drive all the way to the gym. The best way to solve this problem is to get a gym right in your home! You don’t need to spend a ton of money on it. You can buy some high quality, commercial grade used gym machines that will last. Having a gym in your house will also slowly eat away at you if you constantly walk by it without exercising. You don’t need an entire set up. A single cardio machine and a couple of strength machines can be more than enough to get a full body workout.
4. Track your progress
There’s no better motivation than actually seeing results and having your body change before your eyes. Not only should you write down your weight every week or so, you should also track fitness goals like how many pounds you lifted or how many miles you ran. You can also take it up a notch and do before and after photos to track your physical progress.
5. Have a goal
It is absolutely essential to have something to reach for, something to strive for. Although it’s great to have general goals like lose weight or get fit, it is even better to quantify these goals. Maybe lose 20 pounds or run a mile in under eight minutes. Goals that you can reach, but will take some effort to reach are the best kind of goals. Once you reach your goal, pat yourself on the back and set another one. Fitness is not a one time event, it’s a lifestyle.
Once you’re up and motivated, you can check out our warehouse for some great prices on used fitness equipment. We’re located in Orange County and we ship worldwide! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.