When it comes to chores like grocery shopping, showering, dropping the kids off at school, and brushing our teeth there are no free passes; we just do them..every day. If we really sat down and thought about how annoying and exhausting some of these "chores" were, they may never get done! The same goes for exercise. Sometimes the hardest part about working out is drumming up the energy to put on our shoes.
No one loves those first few minutes after dragging themselves out of bed at 5:30 AM to workout. Likewise, gathering the energy to change from our work clothes to workout attire can sometimes seem impossible. Our focus shouldn't be on how we feel immediately before our workout; rather, how we feel after. That post-workout rush fills us with a sense of accomplishment and makes us mentally and physically stronger. That euphoria is what we need to focus on rather than wether or not we feel like exercising today.
Certainly making exercise fun by participating in group fitness classes like bootcamp or finding other creative ways to stay active helps us stay motivated. A recent article in USA Today suggests family camping trips, pedometer challenges among friends, or active "dates" such as rock-wall climbing as ways to encourage a more active lifestyle.
But just like every shopping trip can't be new and exciting, we shouldn't expect to always be "ancy" to start our workout. Sometimes exercise does feel like a "chore" but one that we must get done every day. So on your off days of personal training or bootcamp, don't let "I just don't have the energy" be your excuse. Plan ahead, schedule in ways to be active, and focus on that post-workout euphoria. Putting on your running shoes is often the hardest part. I promise, 10 minutes into your workout you will be glad you took the time out of your busy day to focus on improving your body and mind.
