How do you push through a tough workout? To be perfectly honest with you, I've definitely cut workouts short because I was "too tired," the workout was "too hard" or because I had "somewhere else to be." I've left early from a class, bumped down my cardio time from 20 minutes to 10, haven't done a 4th or 5th set during weightlifting, and even cancelled out a whole planned exercise. However, these occurrences are a lot less frequent now and here are the strategies I've used to ensure I push through it: 1) Remember that your workout is an opportunity to focus on yourself, which is especially helpful after a long day of focusing on other people. ("I'm doing it for me," is my mantra at the gym when I want to stop.)
2) Plan ahead. The day before you go to the gym or do a workout, plan exactly what you're going to do and write it down. If you're worried about a time crunch, plan the timing for each activity. You can have it in a notebook, on your phone, wherever you can remember it. As you go through each exercise, check it off. (Also make sure you know how to do the movements you've planned.) 3) Ask yourself if you're stopping because you're at risk for injury. If you aren't feeling any discomfort and are just...well...being lazy, keep on keeping on! You've gotta find that motivation within yourself (but I know that you're a bad*ss, so keep going)! 4) Make sure you eat an hour before you work out or have a snack. This way you won't bail out because you're hungry. 5) Make a killer playlist that you're excited to listen to while you work out. 6) If you need a regression (if the exercise is too difficult), then take it! If you're lifting 15lb weights but you can't complete your set with 15lbs, then move down to 10lbs and finish it with them. If you've been on the StairMaster for 5 minutes and it's too much, switch to another cardio machine for your remaining time or slow the StairMaster down. If you can't complete the pushups, go onto your knees and do it from there. 7) Go with a buddy and keep each other accountable! Show them your exercise plan, check in with them after you've completed something or have them do it with you. 8) Imagine yourself finishing your full workout. You're gonna feel so good! (Probably much better than you'd feel if you left early.) 9) Do not be afraid of taking care of yourself in front of other people. If you're in a Zumba class and you need water but nobody else is getting water, get your water anyway! If you need to lift lighter or take a modification from the trainer, ask them what you can do instead or try to modify so you can finish it. 10) Remember what you've learned from day to day! Keep track of what your numbers were and try to beat yourself. If you're having a hard time completing a certain activity, you can look back and remember that at some point, you've already done it and can definitely do it again! 11) Have a couple of exercises or go to a class that you're excited about. If you want to be there, no matter how tough it gets, you'll be happy you went! 12) Wear something that makes you feel like a powerful human super hero! Sometimes it does take a lot of willpower to push through your full workout. Of course, if you're feeling sick, an exercise hurts, or you're having any discomfort, stop your workout immediately and take a breather. Do not go back to doing something that you're risking an injury to complete. Reassess, revamp, and recharge. Listen to your body. Thank you so much for reading this blog post! This one came from a question from a good friend of mine on Instagram so thank you so much for that! If you have anything you want to know about or get advice on, please feel free to reach out to me through any social media platform or my "Contact" page of this website. Hope it helped! ~E
2 Comments
Arlene
1/24/2020 04:06:12 pm
Gold star day! I've been to the gym three days in a row! First time this has happened since I joined, two yrs. ago.
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AuthorElena B. Archives
June 2020
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