How to Stay Motivated to Exercise
Motivation to exercise can be as easy as jumping out of bed, or quite hard for some of us. There are many ways to get motivated and inspired. It's a matter of finding that something, or someone, that gets you up and moving.
Find what makes you happy
I love listening to music that inspires me and puts me in a place where I feel alive. For you it might be a favourite walking route, a podcast or a coffee with a friend afterwards. Find that something that makes you happy and use it as your motivation.
Having an achievable, realistic goal will also get you motivated and keep you focused and on the right track.
Surround yourself with people who back you
Another key is to be around people who inspire you and get behind you on your journey. Like-minded women who make their health and fitness a priority are a great group to be in. It's important to have the closest people around you backing you 100%. Tell your family and friends about your fitness goals and how important their support is. I'm sure they'll be with you all the way and excited for you. My husband is my biggest fan.
3 exercises to include in your walks
- Stair climbing. Climb a set of stairs and repeat 3 times, then add 1 to 2 sets as you go. Any speed is good. Challenge yourself to beat your time on each set.
- Power up hills. Include some inclines in your walk. It's a great workout for your glutes. Try to reach the top without stopping. Hills are your friend.
- Walking lunges. Do a set of 3 x 10 lunges and build up to 20 a set. You can even do them while pushing a pram. Hard work with a double pram, but worth it.
Don't forget to get professional advice. Let your doctor or physiotherapist know you're planning a new fitness program with low to high intensity exercise. It gives you and your trainer the OK to go for it.