Most people think the winter is the hardest time to train because of the cold dreary weather which makes it difficult to get motivated and get moving.
Summertime however is arguably the hardest time to stay motivated in keeping on schedule with our fitness goals because there are just so many distractions out there.
The beautiful weather alone is enough of a distraction for many people to just ditch the gym for the day for the beach. On top of that if you are a parent, you are going to be seeing a lot more of your kids now that school’s out and going to the gym becomes a second priority.
If you are Having problems getting motivated this summer, try these techniques to stay focused and on track.
1-Modify Your Workouts to Stay in Shape This summer
One of the biggest reasons people give up on their workout routine during the summer is because their schedule changes which completely throws them out of balance. More than likely you are not obligated to do something else during the time that you would usually go to the gym, so you just stop going altogether.
The best way to get around this is just to accept that you aren’t getting to the gym when you normally would, and that you should squeeze in exercises in to your schedule when free time permits you so.
This could mean that you have to work out during your lunch break one day and maybe workout after dinner the next, but it is worth it. Getting in a short workout is still better than no workout, and will keep prevent you from regressing too far from where you before the summer started.
2-Set Realistic Goals to Stay on Track
All of us want that perfect beach body before the end of the summer and are ready to hit the ground running as soon as possible. Many people who are overweight want to lose as many pounds as fast as possible, which is completely understandable.
The thing to keep in mind though is to keep your goals realistic for your own mental well being. If you are very heavy and want to lose 100 or more pounds, don’t make that your initial goal. It will take you a long time to get there and it can be demoralizing.
Set a more realistic goal to give yourself a better chance of success. Remember that to be safe your body should only be losing 3-4 pounds a week maximum otherwise it can have severe health effects, so base your goals roughly off of those numbers. Don’t expect to lose 10 lbs a week regularly.
If you are very heavy, you are going to have to start slow, so have patience. Start exercising by doing things like going on walks, or hitting a heavy bag. You are not going to be able to start out by doing sprints, so make sure you keep your expectations realistic.
The best path to success here is to make little progressions steadily over time which will help you reach your goal.
3-Find Sources of Inspiration to Get Motivated
If getting motivated is your problem, you need to get inspired to get in the gym and exercise. It may sound corny, but sometimes when you just aren’t feeling it, turning on a particular song or maybe even watching a video can put you in the mood to get going.
Keep in mind that when it comes to exercise and getting motivated, a big part of that is psychological. Many of us feel like we don’t have the physical energy to put in to a workout when in reality it is just our psyche that isn’t engaged.
Studies show that listening to the emotions of a singer can get you motivated, so take advantage and harness that energy!
If you still feel like you have low energy or aren’t motivated, in may be due to a vitamin deficiency. If this sounds like you, try a product like Ultimate Man from Men’s Healthy Lifestyle. This product contains a multivitamin which will provide you will all the necessary vitamins and minerals you need, plus ginseng and ginkgo which will boost your energy levels as well.
