How to stay on track with
your fitness routine
For some people, getting into exercise is one hurdle, but keeping active and building a regular routine can be the most difficult part. So how do you start your fitness journey and keep on track with it? Before becoming a Personal Trainer I was pretty unfit, and initially found working out in the gym a chore that I didn’t look forward to doing. However, over time I found ways of motivating myself to build a routine, and gradually go from disliking going to the gym, to absolutely loving it. So here I share a few tips that helped me to develop consistency with my exercising, and build a much more positive relationship with fitness as a whole.
Keep your exercises versatile and enjoyable
Find a variety of exercises that challenge you but that you also enjoy doing, and experiment with different ones each week to keep it fun and versatile. If you have exercises that you hate doing, remember that you don’t have to do them – this is your workout! As long as you find an alternative that helps you to reach your desired goals, then do those ones instead. Going to fitness classes at your gym and being lead by a trained fitness professional can also help to improve your exercise technique, and websites like Self Magazine have some useful workout ideas and guidance to follow too.
Listen to music that will drive your workout
Music can be a massive motivator in getting a great exercise session under your belt. Pop your headphones in and stick on whatever you fancy working out to. I like to choose music that matches what I’m doing e.g cardio exercise to fast-paced music like house, dance or pop, weightlifting to tracks with a solid beat or base like afrobeats, dancehall or hip hop, and stretching to a more mellow vibe like R&B or soul.
Use a calendar
At the end of every day, I use my phone’s calendar to record any exercise I have done so that I can look back and feel proud of what I have achieved that week. Whether it’s a bit of cardio or a strength workout, doing some yoga, or going for a walk, they all count as different ways of keeping active. Recording in a calendar/ fitness watch can also help you realise how much (or how little) you are moving your body during the week.
Wear sports kit that you feel great in
I like to wear sports kit that makes me feel confident and comfortable at the same time – ditch the leggings that drop down with every Squat, sports bras that don’t fully support you, trainers that aren’t good for your form, tops without sweat-resistant fabrics etc. Your clothes don’t have to be expensive – there’s lots of good quality sportswear that are readily available through high street brands. My favourite brands at the moment include Columbia for leggings, Adidas for sports bras and tops, and Nike for trainers.
Go with how you are feeling
When it comes to your exercise day you aren’t always going to feel on it, with a number of factors possibly contributing, like a crap night’s sleep, feeling unwell, sustaining an injury etc. Giving your body time to rest and recover is crucial, but it’s also important to pick up your exercise again when you are feeling well enough to do so too. Try not to be harsh on yourself when things don’t go as planned - you can hold yourself accountable whilst also being gentle with yourself.
Plan your exercise in advance
Let’s face it, most of us are really busy, and no matter how we try to plan our weeks, our plans can naturally change, with our free time switching up too. Try to schedule in your workout times in advance, and if changing social or work plans mean you have to cancel it, ensure you allocate a different slot in the week to pick it back up again. It may also be worth considering if your workout routine is sustainable, for instance can you realistically make it to the gym 5 times per week, or would 3 times be a more achievable target in line with your schedule?
Keep reminding yourself of your goals and benefits
You simply will not reach your goals if you do not put the effort in to achieving them, so keep reminding yourself of why you are exercising, and the benefits every time you do carry it out. You may start a workout feeling demotivated, but most times when you finish, those feel-good endorphins will kick in and you’ll feel a lot better for pushing yourself to do it.
Set goals and record what you’ve been doing
One question I get asked a lot by gym customers is how do they know if they are making progress, and a lot of it comes down to tracking your results. If running is your thing, you could record your finishing times or note down how your body felt at different points during the run, or when doing strength training record how much weight you’ve been lifting, for how many reps etc. That way you can review and track your progression, which motivates consistency and to not give up on it.
Ultimately your fitness journey is your own, and you’ll figure out what works well for keeping you on track with it. Exercise allows for so much freedom and creativity – there’s a lot of opportunity to switch off, have a bit of you time, and connect with your mind and body and see what it’s really capable of. So whether you’re beginning or restarting getting into exercise, be confident in your ability to stick with it - your mind and body are likely to really thank you later!
Keep your exercises versatile and enjoyable
Find a variety of exercises that challenge you but that you also enjoy doing, and experiment with different ones each week to keep it fun and versatile. If you have exercises that you hate doing, remember that you don’t have to do them – this is your workout! As long as you find an alternative that helps you to reach your desired goals, then do those ones instead. Going to fitness classes at your gym and being lead by a trained fitness professional can also help to improve your exercise technique, and websites like Self Magazine have some useful workout ideas and guidance to follow too.
Listen to music that will drive your workout
Music can be a massive motivator in getting a great exercise session under your belt. Pop your headphones in and stick on whatever you fancy working out to. I like to choose music that matches what I’m doing e.g cardio exercise to fast-paced music like house, dance or pop, weightlifting to tracks with a solid beat or base like afrobeats, dancehall or hip hop, and stretching to a more mellow vibe like R&B or soul.
Use a calendar
At the end of every day, I use my phone’s calendar to record any exercise I have done so that I can look back and feel proud of what I have achieved that week. Whether it’s a bit of cardio or a strength workout, doing some yoga, or going for a walk, they all count as different ways of keeping active. Recording in a calendar/ fitness watch can also help you realise how much (or how little) you are moving your body during the week.
Wear sports kit that you feel great in
I like to wear sports kit that makes me feel confident and comfortable at the same time – ditch the leggings that drop down with every Squat, sports bras that don’t fully support you, trainers that aren’t good for your form, tops without sweat-resistant fabrics etc. Your clothes don’t have to be expensive – there’s lots of good quality sportswear that are readily available through high street brands. My favourite brands at the moment include Columbia for leggings, Adidas for sports bras and tops, and Nike for trainers.
Go with how you are feeling
When it comes to your exercise day you aren’t always going to feel on it, with a number of factors possibly contributing, like a crap night’s sleep, feeling unwell, sustaining an injury etc. Giving your body time to rest and recover is crucial, but it’s also important to pick up your exercise again when you are feeling well enough to do so too. Try not to be harsh on yourself when things don’t go as planned - you can hold yourself accountable whilst also being gentle with yourself.
Plan your exercise in advance
Let’s face it, most of us are really busy, and no matter how we try to plan our weeks, our plans can naturally change, with our free time switching up too. Try to schedule in your workout times in advance, and if changing social or work plans mean you have to cancel it, ensure you allocate a different slot in the week to pick it back up again. It may also be worth considering if your workout routine is sustainable, for instance can you realistically make it to the gym 5 times per week, or would 3 times be a more achievable target in line with your schedule?
Keep reminding yourself of your goals and benefits
You simply will not reach your goals if you do not put the effort in to achieving them, so keep reminding yourself of why you are exercising, and the benefits every time you do carry it out. You may start a workout feeling demotivated, but most times when you finish, those feel-good endorphins will kick in and you’ll feel a lot better for pushing yourself to do it.
Set goals and record what you’ve been doing
One question I get asked a lot by gym customers is how do they know if they are making progress, and a lot of it comes down to tracking your results. If running is your thing, you could record your finishing times or note down how your body felt at different points during the run, or when doing strength training record how much weight you’ve been lifting, for how many reps etc. That way you can review and track your progression, which motivates consistency and to not give up on it.
Ultimately your fitness journey is your own, and you’ll figure out what works well for keeping you on track with it. Exercise allows for so much freedom and creativity – there’s a lot of opportunity to switch off, have a bit of you time, and connect with your mind and body and see what it’s really capable of. So whether you’re beginning or restarting getting into exercise, be confident in your ability to stick with it - your mind and body are likely to really thank you later!