180 Nutrition: Whether you like to get up and get your exercise done, or you prefer to make movement the last thing on your daily to-do list, the fact is that before exercise slots naturally into your routine, you have to make it a habit, and creating new habits can be a challenge.
Reasons for missing a training session are many and varied. You hit snooze one too many times in the morning leaving yourself short of time, you leave work late and it’s too dark by the time you get home, or, a common one, exercise is hard, and you just don’t want to!
Look at the people around you, you’ll see those who exercise on most days without fail, or you’ll see those who rarely exercise at all. Very few people sit in the ‘sometimes’ category as far as training habits are concerned.
Whatever your reason for not exercising regularly, these five tips will help you get into a lifelong habit, so it’s easy for you to exercise every day and to make sure you sit in the former category for the rest of your life.
Note: Just one point before we jump into the 5 tips, and this could in fact be the most important of all tips. It’s critical to ensure that you choose an exercise routine that you ACTUALLY ENJOY … now over to the tips:
1) Set the alarm
Sounds simple but if you’re in the habit of waking up at a certain time each day, it will be hard to break this without some intervention. If you set an alarm, but you still hit snooze and wake up at the usual time, go to bed earlier.
Once your body is used to getting out of bed that extra hour earlier, you’ll find that before long, you will automatically wake you up at your new time every day giving yourself plenty of time for exercise.
2) Prepare your exercise gear beforehand
Preparation is essential when you’re establishing a new exercise routine as this is the first step to letting your brain know what’s about to happen. Prepare your workout clothes and any equipment that you’ll need before you go to bed, so there’s minimal thinking required before you get moving. There’s an old saying that some people would rather exercise in the morning before their brain has the chance to realise what they’re doing! I’ve even heard of people sleeping in their training gear in the middle of winter! I don’t recommend that for hygiene reasons, but take your clothes and shoes out the night before and, when you wake up, don’t think, just do!
3) Remind yourself why you’re exercising
Getting into an exercise routine isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. Whether your goal is to lose weight, get fit to eliminate a health issue or improve your fitness so you can run around with your kids today and into the future; remind yourself of that. When you don’t like the thought of getting your heart rate up and lifting heavy weights at the gym, think of the bigger picture which I have no doubt will spur you on.
4) Get enough sleep
Good sleep is a vital contribution to your workout regime. If you work out in the morning, but you don’t go to bed any earlier, you’ll find it hard to get out of bed. If you work out after work, that’s the time of day that a bad night’s sleep will catch up with you making you much more likely to go home and veg on the couch rather than get to the gym and get your sweat on. If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, read more here.
5) Reward yourself with a post-workout treat
Once your workout is over, your body floods with endorphins which make you feel absolutely great. During the workout however, while you’re sweating and it’s hard, maybe not so much! While you’re pushing your body to its limits, look forward to a post-workout treat which will give your body maximum health benefits to make the most of your workout, and tastes delicious too!
We recommend a serve of 180 Nutrition Superfood powder, with some almond milk, half a frozen banana and a smidgen of cacao powder for a healthy pleasure which will help you reach your goals. Focussing on this reward will make it much easier to get yourself to your workout too. Once exercise becomes a habit for you, you’ll find it tough to live without. An active life will lead to you being happy, healthy, full of energy, and making the most of every day.
Discover more post-workouts treats here
