The tennis shoes sit inside your closet, staring you down. When are you going to take me to the gym again? You pretend not to notice them and reach for slippers instead, knowing you’ll have much more fun at home tonight. When was the last time I used a treadmill? You think for a moment, but realize it’s been too long to remember exactly.
If you’ve ever had this conversation with your tennis shoes, you might be battling workout boredom, which makes it easy to hit a wall in your motivation to exercise. If you’re losing the fight against apathy, here are three tips for breaking in your tennis shoes again while having fun.
1. Do what you love.
You don’t need to sign up for the yoga class if you’d rather take a nap on your mat than perform a Child’s Pose. A surefire way to kill your motivation is to make working out miserable — of course you won’t want to come back if you’re uninterested or overwhelmed! If you love dancing, try zumba. If you spend your free time at the pool, learn to master lap swimming. If you like the toned look from weight lifting, incorporate it into your weekly lineup.
Bottom line: don’t force the treadmill on yourself if you’ll go crazy. Of course, be careful not to overwork one part of your body or ignore another area — discipline is key and you’ll need to balance cardio and muscle building. You may be surprised, too — if you’re not sure about trying a new machine or set of repetitions, see Tip #3.
2. Work while you do what you love.
A trendy fitness trend all over Pinterest is television workouts, which suggest different exercises whenever something happens on a show. For example, a pin for one my favorite shows suggests performing 30 lunges each time one of the main characters drinks coffee and 20 crunches when another reads, both of which usually happen multiple times per episode. A similar one is a commercial workout, doing push-ups or jumping jacks when a car or insurance ad airs. (Something like this is perfect for a rainy or too-hot-to-breathe day, too!) Although this can’t replace your cardio, it’s a way to keep moving instead of staying a couch potato.
Another option? Crank up the tunes. You can motivate yourself to work out until a new album or playlist finishes. If you’re tired of the same-old, same-old on your iPod, check out this list of Top 100 Workout Songs from professional trainers. It includes everything from pop to hip-hop, oldies to today’s Top 40.
One more tried-and-true option is to enlist a friend in your regimen. Catching up on a walk burns more calories than doing it over a cup of coffee, and you can keep each other accountable to your routines.
3. Mix it up.
If you spend every morning staring at the same spot on the wall as you run the treadmill, no one would blame you for feeling bored. Routine can help consistency, but one of its dangers is monotony. Try using the elliptical for cardio one week and the stair climber the next.
Don’t be afraid to try something new, either! If you’re not sure where to start, check out a website like AceFitness.org, with videos and diagrams of routines, or sign up for a class at your local gym. Something as simple as running outside or lifting at a different time of day can spice up your ritual. Whatever happens, don’t let the exercise ennui set in again — variety will keep you moving even after you’ve settled into a new practice.
Remember to boost your performance and recovery with Reliv’s ProVantage® with LunaRich®. With 13 grams of muscle-building soy protein per serving as well as other advanced ingredients, ProVantage will give you edge you’ve been looking for. You can also stay in top form with Innergize!®, Reliv’s isotonic formula that features ingredients like ChromeMate® and OptiZinc®, the most readily absorbed forms of chromium and zinc available. Plus, Innergize! contains vitamins, minerals and amino acids to give you added energy, promote oxygen absorption and boost your immune system. It’s a win-win!
Be sure to talk with your physician before beginning any exercise program. Each individual has different health needs that should be considered before attempting a new program.