I’ve been working out pretty consistently the last couple of months and I thought I would share some of my tips with you. I have had periods of time throughout my weight loss where I would be all about working out, but it of course would soon fizzle out. Part of the problem was that I never learned to make it a habit; to me it was always a chore. But now it doesn’t seem that way to me at all. Like I said in my last post, when I miss a workout my whole day is off. It feels great to finally be in that mindset! I’m sure some of you aren’t in that mindset, but I’m hoping these tips will help!

1) Lay Out Your Workout Clothes

they’re not usually folded this nicely…lol

This one has really helped me! I get all my things gathered that I’m going to need the night before and I lay them on my bathroom floor. So as soon as my alarm goes off, all I have to do is drag my butt to the bathroom and put them on! No fumbling around in the dark or turning on a light and waking up B-Fry. There are even times I wear my workout clothes to bed. They’re pretty comfy and if I know I’m going to have a really hard time waking up to workout, this really helps. I don’t know how it works, but if I know it’s all ready to go, then so am I!

So get all your clothes laid out the night before where they can be easily found. Or even wear them to bed, they may not be sexy, but they’re comfy!

2) Get Up At The Same Time Every Day You Workout

5:30am really comes too early some days

I am a morning person, which is strange because I worked 3^rd shift for many years. But now that I am on 1^st shift, I’m all about getting up early! I set my alarm for 5:30am everyday I work. This gives me time to workout, eat breakfast, and shower all before I have to leave for work. Now on days I don’t work, I sleep usually until about 6:30 or 7, but I still get my workout in before I start my day.

Now if you’re not a morning person, I’m sure you can make yourself one. Just set the alarm earlier and go to bed earlier. Nothing good is on TV after 10pm anyways. After a week or so of doing this, I’m sure you’ll find it hard to sleep in. But if morning workouts are definitely something you cannot do, I would suggest ‘scheduling’ your workouts. A lot of people say that don’t have time, but most of the time it’s because they don’t make time for it. 20-30 minutes is all you need to save your sanity and your family’s.

3) Make It Fun

B-Fry and I enjoying our bikes!

I’m all about making exercise fun and doing something I like. Right now I’m doing my 30 Day Shred challenge, which I’m not exactly loving, but I still have fun with it. Who knew yelling at Jillian was a great way to relieve stress? But before I started this challenge I was working out with our Kinect doing Your Shape and Dance Central 2. Now I looked utterly ridiculous doing Dance Central, but you know what, I had an absolute blast and I was burning calories! WIN!

During the summer I was all about my bike, Betty. I would take her out any time I could and I even biked 100 miles in July! Again, I loved doing this and had a lot of fun.

So find something you love to do, whether it be Dance Central 2 or rocking out a spin class at your gym. You’re more likely to stick with something you love then something you loathe.

4) Make It A Routine

Each day with a star is a day I completed a workout!

This goes along with #2, but it is really important. If you stick to a routine and schedule with working out you’re more apt to do it. I workout everyday of the week but Sundays (nobody wants to workout on a Sunday) and Thursdays (Weight Watchers weigh in day). This works really well for me and I get the rest my body needs.

Find a routine that works for you, maybe you can’t workout 5 days a week. Then try for at least 3 and work your way up if you can. Just follow a routine and it will become habit.

5) Set Goals

I will admit, I’m horrible at setting goals. I am the girl who has made it a goal to run a 5k for only the last two years and still haven’t done it. Lol. But, I’m getting better at it! I’m really working on accomplishing this 30 Day Shred goal! I really want to prove to myself I can do it.

Now when setting goals you need to keep the SMART goal acronym in mind; Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time Frame. You don’t want to say, “I want to lose weight by doing Zumba.” A more SMART goal would be: “I would like to lose 10lbs this year by doing Zumba four nights a week.” See, the second one is a much more better set goal!

My SMART goal for the 30 Day Shred: I would like to lose at least 3 inches total off my body by completing the 30 Day Shred in 30 days!

6) Reward Yourself!

My Fitness Jar!

I found this pretty neat idea on Pinterest to help me stick with my workouts! It’s called a fitness jar and every time you complete a workout, you put $1.00 in the jar. Then when you hit a certain weight goal, say 10lbs lost, then you take that money and treat yourself.

I have found it pretty helpful and my jar already has $16 in it! I plan on spending it when I hit the 180s. Not sure what I’ll spend it on, maybe some new workout clothes!

Find a reward that works for you! Whether it be that when you complete a week of workouts, you treat yourself to a manicure or when you can do 10 push ups in a row, you buy yourself a new pair of headphones. Whatever it may be, just don’t make your reward food!

I hope these tips work for you as they have for me! And if you have any more advice I’d love to hear it!