Tips to help you stick to your new workout routine

When we start a new workout or healthy eating routine we’re usually excited and give it our all, but sadly after a while many of us start to plateau and find ourselves slacking off, so here’s a few tips to help you stick to your new routine:

Set Yourself Up For Success: It’s important to take control of a situation before it even arises, so when the time comes and your willpower is about to get tested, it won't be so bad. Firstly try not to put yourself in situations where you will be tempted by bad food choices or be distracted from your goals. Secondly, it’s also important to not go too crazy to begin with - start small by swapping poor food choices for good ones. Don’t just go all cold turkey on sweets and expect to never touch them again, you will end up wanting them more. With working out it’s important to have rest days to give your body the time it needs to recover. Always drink lots of water and stretch or use a foam roller to reduce muscle soreness.

Always Be Prepared: Leave gym shoes and clothes in your car or leave them under your desk at work so that way you always have an option to exercise without the excuse of I don’t have my stuff with me. It also makes it convenient and quick to just get changed and go meaning you then have longer to work out.

 

Believe and Achieve: Always write down your goals and keep track of your progress. You can use a calendar, a diary or even a photo wall - whatever works for you. It’s important to see your progress because then when you’re feeling a bit down will help you to keep going.

 

Balance: Starting a new exercise routine can be very rewarding but also stressful as you feel the pressure to stick to it, but remember it’s ok to have a few off days or miss a workout just make sure it doesn’t become so often that you go back to your old ways. Just be realistic and ensure you have balance in your life between working out, relaxing, being social etc.

Reward Yourself: It’s super important to reward yourself for sticking to your new routine and achieving your goals. Whether it’s having a glass of wine after a long week, or a nice long bath or even buying yourself a new workout top or tights when you reach a goal it’s important to treat yourself to help you keep going. This also follows on from tip 5. A good tip is to try not to rely on food as a reward because that can set bad behaviours between eating foods and exercising, you don't want to overindulge too much, but as always, everything in moderation.

In a nutshell when starting a new workout routine or healthy eating plan the best thing you can do is believe, plan and prepare, balance, record and reward.

Good luck on your new journey and remember everything is possible. It doesn’t matter how many times you fail, it matters how many times you get back up and try again.