Motivation taking a dip? It’s time to put the fun back into your workout
1) Go online
OK, so sacking off the gym membership to save money is a great option for your finances, but how can you spruce up your at-home workouts? Lots of great fitness brands are now taking their classes online, with everything from yoga to ballet barre just a click away. Some of our favourites are Fitness Blender, barrecore and YogaGlo. So log on to find a world of fitness at your fingertips.
2) Have a party
Surely there’s no better way to make fitness fun than to do a class in a disco, right? And with party workouts cropping up across the country, you’d be mad not to try it. We particularly like the look of Ravercise and Fitness Freak raves!
3) Get ’appy
If you’re lacking that bit of oomph to get started, downloading a new fitness app can be a great way to help you set and achieve goals. ‘Apps can help motivate you with shout-outs from friends via social media or help distract you from the monotony or pain of a workout,’ says personal trainer Mollie Millington (ptmollie.com). Our favourites? The Nike Training Club app, and Runnit (find out more in Running News).
4) Be a good sport
Learning something new is always a great way to distract you from the panting and puffing of a workout, and often sees you pushing yourself much harder than you normally would. ‘You will be challenging your body in new ways, so should see and feel a difference in no time,’ says Mollie. ‘It is also a great way to build confidence in new skills and meet new people.’ Trying something different will stop you getting too bogged down in one goal, too. For example, while weight loss is a great goal, doing well in a new sport or having a laugh while you work out can be a better way to inspire you to exercise than waiting for the pounds to drop off.
5) Spin some tunes
Don’t underestimate the power of music. A great playlist can make all the difference to the enjoyment of your workout. And it’s scientifically proven to help you achieve your fitness goals, too. According to findings presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference, listening to your favourite music can improve your performance and boost your enjoyment of sport and exercise. So, this weekend, why not spend a lazy Saturday morning compiling your fave tracks and assessing others for their motivating potential, then download them and head out for a run, cycle or gym sesh. You might find it’s your best workout in weeks!
6) Join the gang
Training with other people is a great way to up the fun factor of your workout. ‘Small group settings give you more attention and value for your money,’ says Mollie. ‘You can probably have sessions more tailored to your interests, abilities and goals, too. And if you can arrange sessions with friends, that’s even better as you can commiserate and celebrate with your progress.’ So, if you’re fed up of being ignored at the back of a class of 30, why not get your mates together and split the cost of a PT for an hour or so? Or simply head out to the park and put together a few body-weight moves for a fun, but effective workout.
7) Take on a challenge
A good goal is a sure-fire way to get you really involved in your training and you’re likely to enjoy it more, too. Set yourself a goal that is tough, but not so hard that you’ll work yourself into the ground to get there. And make sure it’s something you’ll look forward to training for. For example, if you love cycling, you could enter a London to Brighton or London to Paris bike ride. Or if running through mud is your idea of fun, you could try one of the mucky obstacle races. Or if you want to up your fitness and see more of the world, you could sign up to something big like conquering Kilimanjaro.
8) Go old school
Take a trip down memory lane and have a giggle at the same time with old-school workouts like hula hooping. Who can deny the pure fun of attempting to swing giant plastic hoops around your body? Classes are popping up everywhere and it’s a fantastic workout – particularly for the waist! Not keen on the hula-hooping scene? Organise an old-school sports day with your friends in the park instead. Egg and spoon anyone?
9) Train somewhere new
Sometimes life can get in the way of your fitness goals and that can be frustrating. So take yourself away from it all and treat yourself to a week of fitness to give your regime a boost. ‘One of my clients just returned from a bootcamp and is lifting weights at home now,’ says Mollie. ‘The intensity of a bootcamp or fitness holiday might be the kick-start your body needs to start feeling good.’ You can enjoy fitness breaks everywhere from the Cotswolds to Europe and across the world, and you can pick the level of intensity that suits you – yoga break, military bootcamp or fat-loss camp.
10) Get competitive
Being competitive sometimes gets a bit of a bad rap, but it can be one of the best ways to motivate yourself that’s also a lot of fun. Find a way to add a competitive edge to your workouts, whether it’s wearing a fitness band and comparing your ‘steps’ or calorie burn to that of your friends, throwing in a press-up competition with your gym buddies or racing your partner at sprints. ‘If you are a competitive person or one who is goal orientated, then this can be a great motivator,’ says Mollie. ‘For example, if you play football, you will want to train outside of matches to be faster and stronger. The variation in activities will help your body react quicker, too.’
