You’ve had a hard day at work and going home to lie on the couch and watch TV is now much more appealing than going for that 30 minute run you’d planned. Plus you are supposed to cook dinner at home tonight but you really can’t be bothered and the thought of grabbing a pizza on your commute is starting to sound like a better idea by the second!
STOP!
These are the vital signs of someone who is starting to ‘fall off the wagon’, otherwise known as exercise RELAPSE! That one session you miss turns into a week, and that turns into one month, and before you know it you are back to square one. You must take charge of the situation from day one, before it spirals out of control.
Here are FIVE tips to maintaining the healthy lifestyle that you’ve already worked so hard to create:
1. Schedule your next session:
Missing one day of exercise is not the end of the world, but don’t get stuck in a rut, look forward and plan your next exercise session and be committed to attend. Sign up with a personal trainer and tell him/her of your planned session and they will hold you accountable until you are back on the wagon!
2. Use your support network:
When you’re having a day or week where you don’t feel motivated to exercise, call upon your support network to help you overcome the hurdle. Speak to your family and friends who have encouraged you throughout your journey so far.
3. Reconnect with your goals:
Look at how far you’ve come, and where you want to go. How will you get there? Write down your goals and keep them in a visible place – in your daily planner or journal, or on your desk at work. This way you can remind yourself everyday of what you’re working to achieve.
4. Look forward:
Everyone falls off the wagon at some point, it’s just part of the journey, but dwelling over it and being frustrated with yourself won’t help. Put it behind you and move forward, enjoy your next exercise session and you’ll soon be back on track to achieving your goals.
5. Become re-addicted:
Think how exercise makes you feel – healthy, fit, active, happy, energetic, ALIVE! How can you resist?! Get your next exercise fix as soon as possible and you’ll be a ‘Junkie’ again in no time!
Life is full of setbacks; success is determined by how you handle these setbacks. Everyone has bad days, but by using the techniques above you can prevent that one bad day from turning into a bad week. So if you do fall off the wagon, don’t worry, the best thing you can do is to jump right back on and continue enjoying the ride!
* If you’ve been thinking about getting more fit, try out the Endorphin Junkies Experience for FREE. Check out the previous blog posting for all the details. *
Nicola Scott
Endorphin Junkies Personal Trainer
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