How I Keep Up My Excercise Routine

Pre workout, deer in headlights look...

 

I mentioned in this post from last July, that my primary reason for wanting to be physically fit, is to be ready to serve, in any capacity, where the LORD calls me to. Whether it's motherhood, or travelling to a foreign mission field, (the first being the more likely scenario), I want to be able to serve my LORD, to my fullest ability, without adding any hardship, that could be avoided by simply exercising daily.

As I have done my whole adult life (all 6 years...), I set a goal on New Year's Day, 2014. I said I was going to keep up a daily exercise routine. I will admit, up until last year, keeping up a regular exercise routine was really difficult. But for the first time in my life, by GOD's grace, I achieved my goal. :D

Unless I was sick, or feeling really under the weather, I completed some form of physical activity at least 5 days, every week.

Sometimes it meant getting it in at 5 am, when there was a particularly busy day ahead. Other times it was kicking it out at 10:30 in the evening because I fought against any movement the entire day.

But I did it.

And along the way, I learned some tricks to help keep me motivated, to keep pushing on. And I would like to share those with you. My prayer is that they will be an encouragement for you, in your journey to good health.

~ Set a goal, or choose a specific motivation. I had several goals when I set out to achieve my goal of exercising daily. The first, I will not deny, was to lose some weight I had put on our first year of marriage. The second was to be physically ready to maybe become pregnant later in the year. That was a huge motivator, and still is.

~ Find something you love to do. I am NOT an athletically inclined gal. But, I love weight lifting. I've always had this weird love for lifting heavy objects, so this activity is perfect for this wanna be tough gal. It makes me angry when I can't lift a certain weight, and makes me work harder to lift heavier. I also love being outdoors when the weather is right. So, when I can, I will run, walk, or bike. Exercise doesn't have to be a certain routine. Just get up and move in a way you enjoy.

~ Set a plan. Every year that I have set my goal to exercise, I realized I never set a plan. I just sort of meandered through my set workout time. Doing whatever exercise came to mind. While I was moving, I was going no where. I had no direction. But last year, I went online to BodyBuilding.com, and chose a plan from their site, that was planned out for beginner female weight training (including weekly HIIT routines for fat loss, which I really wanted). All the exercises I needed to complete were in spreadsheet form, for me to check off when completed. There was no more wandering and wondering what in the world I needed to do. :)

 ~ Buy clothing specifically for working out. A few days after I started my routine, I went to Ross and picked out two pairs of workout pants, and two shirts. Every couple of months, I would pick up a new Under Armour shirt on the clearance rack at Dicks Sporting Goods, or a pair of shorts. I don't know about ya'll, but when I get new clothing, I 've got to wear them soon. So, knowing I was going to be able to wear my colorful, comfy clothes was a HUGE motivation to work out. :)

~ Lay out your workout clothes before bed. And if you can, put them on first thing in the morning. I found this tip online somewhere, and incorporated it. Knowing I had my workout clothes ready, or on me, was a great reminder to get the work done, and SOON. :)

~ Compile a playlist that gets ya movin! My playlist of workout music is not what I would listen to regularly. My list ranges from country, pop, and hip hop. And I ONLY listen to those songs when I am working out.

~Use Pinterest. But with caution. When I say use Pinterest, I'm not talking about pinning "inspirational" photos, of fit, and nearly naked women. I use it to keep a collection of at home workouts, and inspirational sayings to memorize when a workout is a bit on the rough side.

~ Change it up. Maybe you are like me, and you get bored easily. Every few weeks I change up my routine, and will incorporate some new exercises to catch my attention. This is also great for challenging the muscles to work in a new, or different way.

~ Pray. Above all else, prayer is what keeps me going most days. I can't tell you how many days last year I would break down crying in a workout, thinking I could not keep this up. But, those cries turned into prayers, that turned into strength, to make it through.

Oh yes, all done!

Oh, and keep these two thoughts in your head also...

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

1 Timothy 4:8-9

 

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:29-31

What are some things that keep you motivated to workout?

 

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

Angel