How to Stay Motivated with Exercise & My Fitness Plan

Activewear: c/o Adore Me | Sneakers: Nike similar here, here and here

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Sometimes fitness and exercise seems like the last thing to have time for in your busy day. Today I wanted to share some ways to get motivated with your fitness, even for those of you with the busiest schedules. Whether you're just starting out or struggling to keep active this can be helpful for you: 

1. Self-identify your reasons for wanting to increase your fitness/activity level. There are always a million and a half reasons to not do something, find the one reason why you NEED to do it. Is it to become healthier, fit into clothes better, to improve self-esteem? If you can identify why you want to be more active in the first place, you can determine how important it is for you to commit. 

2. Make it a priority. If that means less TV watching, meal prepping on weekends rather than weeknights to free up evenings ( I do this), find something less important in your daily life and make this a priority over that. Remember only you have the power to change your lifestyle and routine and only you can motivate yourself enough to reach those goals.

3. Find something that you like to do rather than something you dread. If you enjoy your workout,  you’re that much more likely to stick with it. For me that’s Zumba. I dance 3-4x/ week for my cardio and fitness and I feel guilty anytime I miss a class because I love it so much. It doesn’t feel so much like a chore because it’s become more of a hobby for me rather than something I HAVE to do.

4. Find a workout buddy. This could be a friend or family member.  If you find someone who has similar fitness goals as you or that you can workout with regularly,  you’re that much more likely to exercise because you have someone to be accountable to. 

5. Join a class. There is something about being in a class that brings out the competitive side of me which pushes me to get the most out of my workout. If you have a competitive personality, you may find a group workout setting to be much more motivating than being by yourself. For those of you that are hesitant to try something out of your comfort zone (like Zumba),  take a trial class. Many gyms offer free days for your to test the class before you commit.

My Typical Week of Exercise

Mon	Tues	Weds	Thus	Fri	Sat	Sun
Zumba	Zumba Toning (Use of  light weights while dancing)	High Intensity Interval training  (Heavy barbell lifting + cardio for muscle development)	Zumba toning (Use of  light weights while dancing)	Night off	Power class (Heavy Barbell class)	High Intensity Interval training  (Heavy barbell lifting + cardio for muscle development)

I aim for 5-6 days of exercise per week because I crave daily fitness.  It is my 1 hour a day to clear my mind completely and let go of any stress I may have. You don't need to exercise as frequently either. Some find that 3 days a week is enough to get them the results they want.  It all depends on what you're trying to achieve. 

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT CANNOT GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND HAVE VERY LIMITED TIME IN A DAY THIS MAY BE YOUR ALTERNATIVE:

On days that are extremely busy where I can’t get to the gym, the hubby and I complete a home-based 30 minute high-intensity work out called Insanity Max 30 by Beach Body (shop here). If you’re looking for something to kick your butt in a short period of time or for those of you on a constant time crunch, this is definitely the work out for you! Warning: this is a very intensive program, so you may want to start with something easier (like Focus T25 or Cize) if you're just starting your fitness regime. 

If you have any questions let me know in the comments below!

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and ideas are my own.