Are you bored with your fitness journey? Maybe you aren’t feeling motivated to hit the gym again. At the very beginning, it’s easy to get to the gym and get your workout in. You have the motivation and the drive. But that can quickly fizzle out. And when things get harder, and motivation wanes, it’s a little more challenging to get that workout in. But I’ve found that the key to working out more consistently is finding a workout that is right for you. Sure, you’re doing this to get in shape or to feel healthier, but you also have to enjoy it - at least a little bit. If you don’t enjoy your workouts, you’re never going to stick to the routine, and that’s often why people struggle.
Honestly, not everyone is made the same. So the same workout might not be right for two different people. For instance, I used to go to the gym with a good friend. She was about my age and body shape, but we did 2 totally different workouts based on what our bodies needed.
5 Ways to Find Workouts That Are Right for You:
ONE:: Decide On Your Goals
The first thing that you need to do is decide on your workout goals . If you don’t know what you’re trying to achieve, you’ll struggle to find a workout that gets the results you’re looking for. You might be trying to lose weight, tone up, or train for a marathon. It doesn’t matter what your goal is but you need to be clear on it.
Once you have the goal in mind, you can find workouts that will help you achieve it. For instance, when I trained for the Chicago Marathon I looked into a couple different marathon training programs, before deciding on one that seemed challenging and doable while also giving me some cross training days so I didn’t just spend my time endlessly running.
TWO:: Look For Tips Online
Not sure where to begin or even what kind of workouts are out there? There are so many great resources online that can help you on your fitness journey and give you some great tips to help you decide on the best workouts. This great Q&A resource, for example, has lots of tips and tricks on different workouts and ways to stay motivated. If you have questions about the best way to workout, it’s a great place to find answers. You can also use online resources, and even apps, to research different exercises and their benefits.
When I first started branching out from just running, which is how my fitness journey began, I downloaded a bunch of apps and bookmarked a number of websites. Then, when I had a few minutes of downtime, I would read through the resources and note things that applied to me or were of interest.
THREE:: Be Realistic About Time
You can tell yourself that you’re going to workout every single day for an hour and meet your fitness goals in a month, but it’s not always realistic. And then after you set yourself a schedule you can never meet, it’s easy to feel like you under performed and then discouragement can set in. It’s far more productive to be realistic about the time that you can spare for working out.
If you can only do a few sessions a week, that’s still progress. I used to think if I couldn’t get in a 60-minute workout it wasn’t worth the trip to the gym. But then one month I challenged myself to get in a workout daily, no matter the length. You know what happened? I ended up working out nearly double the amount of time that month than I had the previous month when I only worked out when there were ideal conditions. Make a schedule, stick to it, and make it realistic for your life. As one of my favorite trainers says, ‘It doesn’t happen in a day, it happens daily.
FOUR:: Speak To A Personal Trainer
If you’re not sure where to begin or maybe you’re overwhelmed with all the online resources, the best way to find a workout perfectly suited to you and your goals is to speak to a personal trainer. If you tell them what you are trying to achieve, how much time you can dedicate, and what kind of exercise you enjoy doing the most, they can help you to build a custom plan. They will also be able to teach you how to perform exercises properly so you don’t get injured when working out.
FIVE:: Try Different Classes and Gyms
Most gyms offer you a free trial day for you to get an idea of what you like. There might be a workout type that you love, but you never even considered. Shop around. If you like things that are a little slower and more relaxed, try out a yoga studio, a barre class, or some pilates. If you’re like me and want to sweat a ton to feel like you’ve really worked out, experiment with a gym that specializes in HIIT workouts like Orange Theory, or an infrared sauna gym like HOTWORX. If you like to dance perhaps a Zumba class or a dance studio is right for you. Maybe you like swimming and could join a local indoor pool. If you like to mix it up and create your own workouts try out some local gyms to see which one has the equipment and vibe you prefer.
After belonging to a variety of gyms and taking hundreds of classes over the years, I can tell you - not every gym and not every class is the same. You need to shop around, just like you would for anything you were truly going to invest your time and money into.
If you can find the right workout for you, you’ll actually enjoy exercising and it will be a lot easier to stay motivated. So, tell me… if you’ve discovered your workout style - what is it? If you are unsure, what will you try next to discover the workout that’s best for you?
