As summer comes to an end, you may find yourself losing your drive to keep coming to the gym and maintaining your workouts. However, it’s important you keep your motivation moving all the way to the year’s finish line, and beyond.
Here are 3 suggested strategies to keep your momentum going so you can continue to decrease body fat and increase muscle mass, without the threat of “swimsuit season” being your main source of motivation.
1. Work out with friends
Put your skin in the game of fitness – don’t underestimate the power of accountability. One of the best ways to keep your fitness routine in check is with partner or group workouts. Affiliation style workouts keep all parties inspired, motivated, accountable – and even competitive. If you don’t show up, you might have to face disappointment or punishment (dinner’s on you). When you’re not the only person involved in your fitness development, it’s easier to get where you want to be.
2. Invest in YOU
Prize incentives (a vacation, a new outfit, etc.) are a great way to reward yourself for a job well done. When you know an amazing prize is awaiting you at the end of the finish line, it’s hard not to run a little faster, do another pushup, or lose a few more pounds.
Or, reward yourself at the start line. Go ahead and spend $200 for those colorful new running shoes you’ve been eyeing – sometimes investing in new apparel or equipment before you begin can give you that extra push you need.
3. Find the right training + nutrition combo
Finding the right metabolic training and nutritional program combo is vital to fat loss, weight maintenance and muscle toning/building. When you really see results, how can you not feel motivated?
Placing heavy loads on your body in high intensities at the correct times and in the correct volumes keeps the body “anabolic” (building muscle and burning fat). A spike in your hormones (testosterone and HGH) and other regenerating processes in the body propel your metabolism to work extra hard, burning additional calories even after workouts – this is known as the “afterburn effect”.
Do a little research and experimentation, so you can find the training and nutrition combo that always gives you that afterburn. As always, you can talk to any training professional at Fit to help you with the groundwork.
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Just because summer is over doesn’t mean it’s time to bust out your stretchy pants and sit on the couch all day. Remember, being “fit” is not a destination, it’s a way of life. Don’t give up now!
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Fit Athletic offers classes and weight training for women and gym etiquette rules in Fit San Diego downtown, gyms in Solana Beach and Club Carmel Mountain locations.
