KristieRebuilds

Tag: fitness tips

  • How I Keep My Toddler Entertained While Out On A Run

    How I Keep My Toddler Entertained While Out On A Run

    Amazing weather ✅

    Top rated running shoes ✅

    Fueled up and ready to go ✅

    This all sounds like the perfect conditions for taking an outdoor run with your family. But if you don’t have a plan for your toddler, you plan to fail.

    I cannot tell you how many times my husband and I have put our son in the stroller. Just to turn back after less than a quarter of a mile in because my son wasn’t having it.

    He’s done it all from screaming to the top of his lungs the entire run to throwing things like his hat at cars in traffic!

    Let’s be honest…we are the adults but the kids run everything because if they aren’t content and happy; mama and daddy certainly won’t be.

    Thankfully, we’ve done really well at figuring out how to keep him entertained. Here are some that have helped us…

    1. Bring snacks! This seems like a no brainer but it is important to consider the type of snacks. It should be something portable and not messy.

    2. Let them participate. No matter how small of a task it is. We let our son hit the “run” button when it’s time to start tracking our time.

    3. Let them explore with their eyes. Explain things you see that they don’t get to see everyday like a buzzard eating roadkill, a giant grasshopper, or even a flower they have never seen. We once saw a buzzard getting a dead bird from middle of the street. My son asked what it was and I explained he was getting food to take back to his family. Since then, he asks me almost everyday if the buzzard took food to his family today.

    4. Let them grab. Tall grass, weeds or whatever they can get their hands on. It’s like their trophy for the day.

    5. Bring a portable outdoor toy. Something entertaining like a bubble machine has been a lifesaver! The best $5 I’ve ever spent.

    6. Bring the tablet. This one isn’t my favorite but sometimes necessary. I have found that the tablet has only had to be used in extreme circumstances. It sits in his lap, turned off, 95% of the time. He’s usually too busy looking around to see what’s around him. If it’s a must to use, try suggesting that they record stuff they see or maybe listen to songs.

    7. Give them a chance to run too. After we finish, we get him out of the stroller to let him run up and down the sidewalk a few times. He even asks about his running time when he’s done!

    Running as a family has been something that we look forward to each day. We struggle together, sweat together, bond and it’s a great way to get yourself and the kids out of the house without spending a dime. Our son asks every, single day…”Mama, are we going to go for a run today?” Making memories like this is worth the soreness that we go through.

    Hope these tips help you as much as they help us. If you have a tip, drop it in the comments.

    Stay Fearless 💋

  • Here Are 3 Things I Learned About Overdoing It With Exercise

    Here Are 3 Things I Learned About Overdoing It With Exercise

    Hey fearless readers! Hope you’re have a wonderful Friday.

    On Wednesday, I posted about the trials and tribulations that I’ve been going through in training for a marathon that is supposed to happen in December. Working out everyday for 6 months straight. On five days of the week, I was doing two-a-days….weights in the morning and running in the evening.

    I’d recently started experiencing pain in damn near every part of my body. From my shoulders to my butt and even my big toe. I’m not exaggerating!

    Since I was hurting everywhere; I decided to take it easy by doing weights every other morning and taking a brisk walk in the evenings instead of running. But that didn’t help at all. I was still hurting!

    Here’s a look at Nike reminding me how terrible my numbers were:

    As you can see, I hit the trails for 3 miles. My average time per mile was 18 minutes and 45 seconds. Which is absolutely horrible when I compared it to my previous numbers when I was running a 10 minute mile. Seeing that it took me basically double the amount of time than before all of the body pain was a hard pill to swallow. But I had no choice but to accept it.

    After this run, I got on the floor to do pushups before bed and it felt like my arm was going to fall off. It was suddenly extremely sore and hurt if I tried to raise my hand.

    I woke up the next day (still hurting) and said,

    Bitch, you need a break!

    and that’s what I did. I set rules for myself that day: No weights, no cardio, no pushups…nothing. I just felt tired and beat up.

    After a full day of rest, I took the next morning off and did no weights too. When our usual run time came, my husband asked if I felt like going out. I’ll go but I’ll take it easy. I thought.

    I got out there and don’t know what happened. I ran faster, longer, and felt overall amazing! Check out my numbers after the break time…

    When I checked out my stats, I was really impressed! It was not my personal best but it was a drastic improvement from just having one and a half days rest.

    On the cool down, I started to think about what changed and why. Here are some things that I learned.

    1. Give yourself grace. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Like I previously mentioned, I’d been working out for 6 months straight. I haven’t met my goals so far so I thought ramping up my exercises would get me there faster. It doesn’t work that way. Just keep showing up. The results will come.
    2. Listen to your body. If you’re tired. Go sit down somewhere! You’re human. You need rest. Working with injuries will only make it worse not better.
    3. Learn to laugh at yourself. Stressing and exercising don’t go together. Exercising actually helps to alleviate stress. Laughing at the fact that your 40 year body needs rest, when you’re 20 year old body different is pretty funny if you think about it.

    I’m excited to be feeling more like myself again and hope to see my running times greatly improve. Either way I’ll just keep showing up (except when my body tells me not to) and enjoying the journey! After all, the marathon awaits.

    Whats something you’ve learned about yourself during a fitness journey? Let’s talk in the comments.

    Stay Fearless 💋

  • Ways To Make Fitness A Priority Throughout The Day

    There are countless reasons why people might want to make fitness a priority throughout the day. Maybe they’re trying to lose weight or just want to be healthier overall. Whatever the reason, it can be tough to prioritize fitness when so many other things are going on. The following blog will discuss some tips for making fitness a priority throughout the day!

    1) Set A Daily Fitness Goal

    It can be helpful to set a daily fitness goal, such as walking for 30 minutes or doing a certain number of sit-ups. This way, you have something to work towards daily, and you’re more likely to stick with your fitness routine.

    If you find that you’re struggling to make time for fitness, it might be helpful to set a weekly or monthly goal instead. For example, try to walk for at least 30 minutes three times per week.

    It’s essential to find a goal that works for you and that you’re realistically able to achieve. If your goals are too ambitious, you’re likely to get discouraged and give up on your fitness routine altogether.

    2) Create A Fitness Schedule

    Another helpful tip is to create a fitness schedule and stick to it as much as possible. This might mean working out first thing in the morning or walking during your lunch break.

    If you have trouble sticking to a schedule, try setting reminders on your phone or writing down your workout times in a planner. It can also be helpful to find a workout buddy who can help keep you accountable.

    Remember that even if you can’t always stick to your schedule, you must be flexible and go with the flow. Life happens, and there will be days when you have to miss a workout. Just don’t let one missed workout turn into two or three!

    3) Make Use Of Apps

    In this day and age, there’s an app for everything- including fitness! Look into some of the many health and fitness apps that are available to help you stay on track, or alternatively you can create a fitness app. Some apps track your steps, monitor your calorie intake, and even provide workout routines. Having all of this information at your fingertips can make it easier to see where you need to improve.

    Some apps allow you to connect with friends who have similar fitness goals. This can provide motivation and encouragement, as well as a sense of competition. Seeing how much progress your friends have made can push you to reach your own goals. And if they’re struggling, you can offer support and advice. Using apps is a great way to prioritize fitness throughout the day.

    In conclusion, there are many ways to make fitness a priority throughout the day. It might take some time and effort to find what works best for you, but it’s worth it in the end. Just remember to be patient, flexible, and most importantly- don’t give up! Creating and sticking to a healthy routine can be daunting, but it’s definitely achievable with a bit of planning and effort.

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  • How To Dress For Yoga Class

    How To Dress For Yoga Class

    If you are a yoga enthusiast, and you want to ensure that you look just as good in yoga class as you do when you aren’t working out, but you also want to ensure you are able to stay as comfortable as possible and complete all o the asanas as effectively as possible, you might be wondering what you should wear.

    With that in mind, I’ve put together some quick tips to help you dress right for yoga whether you are a newbie, someone who is undergoing their 200-hour yoga teacher training certification, or a seasoned yoga teacher. You totally can look great and dress to support your yoga practices too, as you will see below.

    Yoga class

    Go for a breathable material

    First and foremost, you will want to ensure that you are comfortable when practicing your downward dog or perfecting your crow pose, and that means you should aim to dress in breathable materials such as bamboo or cotton fashions, which will wick moisture and enable you to feel cool and comfy even if it does get as bt hot and sweaty in the studio.

    Leggings are best

    When it comes to trousers, when you are hitting up the yoga class, you can go for baggy sports pants or leggings. Most women will find that leggings are generally the better choice of the two, not only because they fit the form and do not get in the way, but also because they tend to be more flattering on women of all sizes.

    Yoga class

    Fitted tops

    If you are someone who tends to prefer to working out in baggy t-shirts, you might want to consider when it comes to your yoga outfit. Obviously, baggy tops will ride up and fall over your head when you are doing various yoga poses that force you to stand on your head or turn upside down, which could interfere with your modesty and make it difficult for you to stay calm and hold your poses.

    That is why most women do yoga in a fitted sports bra, crop top, or vest. If that is not your thing, you can buy wraparound yoga tops, which you can tie in place, which will not get in the way as you practice your asanas. These are great for women who want to look a bit more sophisticated at the studio.

    A messy bun

    Putting your hair in a messy bun is not only a quick way to ensure that your hair looks good, but it will also ensure that your locks are safely out of the easy when you are exercising. Yoga often forces you to adopt positions that would otherwise have your hair falling in your eyes or pressing into the back of your head, but with a messy bun worn high on the head, this is no longer an issue.

    Dressing for yoga should be more about your comfort than your style, but as you can see, it is perfectly possible to look and feel great in the yoga studio!

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  • How Your Diet Can Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals

    How Your Diet Can Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals

    With every new year, gym subscriptions and fitness routines flourish. It’s very common for people to decide to get fit, but after a few weeks, people often falter. Motivation fails, especially when it doesn’t seem as though your efforts are achieving much.

    One of the mistakes that people make when trying to get fit is that they only focus on one thing. Yes, a well balanced and regular exercise routine are a huge part of improving your fitness, but there’s more to it than that. Your whole lifestyle needs to adjust, including your diet.

    I like food gifs

    Food is Fuel

    Well, food is a lot of things. It’s enjoyable, for started, and there is a cultural aspect to eating as a group. However, food is first and foremost, fuel for our bodies. Your body uses calories as fuel, which are found in every kind of food. But it isn’t as simple as simply eating the correct amount of calories. 

    About 45-65% of your calories should come from carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates, such as those found in whole grains, fruits, beans, and vegetables are best as they are digested more slowly. This fuels your body throughout the day, rather than in fits and starts. They will also have vitamins and minerals.

    As well as carbohydrates, your fuel should be a well-balanced supply of protein, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. A healthy diet is vital for your general health and for your goal of getting fitter.

    While it may be tempting to simply cut a load of calories to lose weight, this isn’t always the best way. If your diet leaves you feeling unless, then you aren’t getting enough calories. As you increase your activity levels, you need to eat enough to keep you going. 

    Calories are sometimes seen as the enemy to weight loss and fitness goals, but this is a fallacy. True, too many calories can lead to unwanted weight gain, while a calorie deficit diet will help you lose weight. However, you still need calories to keep you going. 

    If you’re trying to lose weight, then a general rule of thumb is aim for 1200-1500 calories per day for a women and between 1500-1800 calories per day for a man. However, this can change depending on your goals and your circumstances.

    Image of measuring waist

    Planning Your Diet

    Making sure that you eat the right amount of calories and the right kinds of food are necessary steps to maintaining a healthy diet that will assist with your exercise routine. However, it’s not always easy to manage, especially if you want to maintain your diet.

    As with exercise, one issue with keeping a diet going is that motivation may fade. If your diet is too stringent, then it will sap the joy out of eating and you’ll be very tempted to give it up. However, a diet that is too relaxed won’t have the effect that you want.

    Balance is key

    Balance is key, with your routine and diet alike. This blog post can help you to plan a workout routine and an appropriate diet plan to go along with it.

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  • Getting the Most from Your Exercise Routine

    Getting the Most from Your Exercise Routine

    It’s the start of a new year, so it’s not all too surprising that many people have set themselves new fitness goals or have implemented a new fitness routine. Of course, we’re a few weeks in, so some people are struggling to stick to their resolutions and are looking for advice that can help them stay motivated and benefit as much as possible. Here are a few suggestions that can help you to get the most from your own fitness regime!

    Picture of woman working out

    Know How Much Exercise You Need

    It’s recommended that the average adult gets one hundred and fifty minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, or seventy five minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise each week. Fit this into your schedule, no matter how busy you may feel.

    Make Sure You’re Fuelling Your Body Properly

    When you’re exercising, your body needs fuel to help you to be as active as possible during this time. This means providing your body with plenty of energy. All too many people try to diet and completely minimise the amount they’re eating at the same time as implementing a new exercise regime. This is nonsensical. You will feel tired, drained, exhausted and may even collapse if you do this. Instead, make sure that you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet and that you provide yourself with enough food to get through your workout to the best of your ability. The amount you eat can be measured in calories. The amount of calories you should aim to get into your diet will depend on factors like age, sex and activity levels. Follow the guide below for a rough estimate.

    • Children aged 2 to 8 – 1000 to 1400 calories
    • Girls aged 9 to 13 – 1400 to 1600 calories
    • Boys aged 9 to 13 – 1600 to 2000 calories
    • Active women aged 14 to 30 – 2400 calories
    • Sedentary women aged 14 to 30 – 1800 to 2000 calories
    • Active men aged 14 to 30 – 2800 to 3200 calories
    • Sedentary men aged 14 to 30 – 2000 to 2600 calories
    • Active adults over 30 – 2000 to 3000 calories
    • Sedentary adults over 30 – 1600 to 2400 calories

    As well as a healthy diet, you may want to try supplements that can fill gaps in your diet and boost your performance. There are plenty of great suppliers out there and you can visit them to find quality supplements at a fair price.

    Picture of woman doing sit ups

    Be Patient

    A lot of people expect immediate results from their fitness routine. This isn’t how life works. It may take months to see the changes you expect, such as being toned, gaining muscle, building strength, becoming more flexible or whatever else your goal may be. Progress takes time. Be patient and consistent and the results will come eventually. Don’t give up!

    Hopefully, some of the information outlined above should help you to stick to your exercise routine and get the most from it. Each step will make a big difference as long as you take it on board and practice it properly. Good luck and enjoy the benefits when you begin to feel them!

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  • How My SnapBack Journey Is Going Since Giving Birth

    How My SnapBack Journey Is Going Since Giving Birth

    Before having my son about 8 months ago, I was all about fitness. I was exercising 5 days a week and loving it.

    Once I got pregnant, I stopped working out after my first doctors appointment. During the appointment the doctor mentioned how big my fibroids were and how it may be a tight space in there for the baby. After hearing the risks, I was so scared of losing the baby that I didn’t work out at all. My husband and I went out for a walk every once in a while but that was about it.

    I decided not to worry about it until after I delivered him safely. After a successful c-section, I waited the required 6 weeks and I was ready to get right back to it. I had just received my new cycling bike in the mail. I was so excited. But that excitement quickly went away after my doctor told me it would be necessary to have another surgery. So, my fitness routine was put off for 8 more weeks.

    I officially started back exercising about one month ago and let me tell you…it is not easy!!! My son wants me to hold him all of the time. Between taking care of him, my husband, the house, and my business…I’m grateful to be able to fit in a work out. But I do make sure that no matter what I’m working out for at least 30 minutes, four times a week. My goal is to get back to an hour for 5 days a week. But I’ll take what I can get for now.

    Here is what my routine has been like and tips that I hope you can use.

    Dancing baby in diaper

    First step is to make sure the baby is good. So, I feed him, change his diaper and see if he needs take a nap before I do any type of exercising. A baby who isn’t content will make your workout terrible. Happy baby = a good workout (usually).

    Working out with baby

    Keep him close. Putting him in a walker or bassinet close to me makes him less prone to cry. I also make sure he knows I’m not ignoring him by blowing him kisses, talking to him, blowing spit bubbles, etc.

    Phone timer for working out with baby

    Use a timer and music. I set the timer on my clock for the amount of time I want to workout. That way I can start and stop it when necessary to tend to him. While also ensuring that I’m accomplishing my workout time.

    Working out with baby

    I Involve the baby when you can. When I’m doing exercises on the floor, I put him down their with me. He gets to let beat on a workout ball or lay on my chest when doing sit-ups.

    Right now, I’m doing 30 minutes on the bike and 15 to 20 minutes of strength training. One day out of the week, I do all strength training with weights. No cardio. It’s coming off slooow! But I’ve gone through a weight loss journey before so I know what I need to do to get back to my regular weight. I not worried about that.

    One thing is for sure. He doesn’t care about my snap back journey. He just wants to be loved on a held. And I’m perfectly happy doing that too!

    Thoughts on working out with a little one? Would you like me to share my journey on the blog?? Let me know in the comments…

    Stay Fearless 💋

  • 4 Ways To Add Culpability To Your Workout Regime

    4 Ways To Add Culpability To Your Workout Regime

    There are days when you want to hit the gym and burn off as many calories. Conversely, sometimes you want to sit in front of the TV and do nothing all day. The key is to find the right balance between exercise and rest, i.e. working out regularly. Everyone needs the motivation to don their Lycra workout gear and jump on the treadmill and you need to find your personal motivator. If you haven’t experienced it before, culpability may be the answer. When there are consequences to skipping, it’s tougher to make excuses.

    photo of woman jumping
    Photo by Tim Savage on Pexels.com

    Here are four ways to add responsibility to your exercise regime.

    woman in gray crew neck shirt running on brown soil during daytime
    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

    Exercise As A Team

    There is nothing better than joining forces with a friend to reach your fitness goals. Together, you can spur each other on and encourage one another to push the envelope. On your own, it’s tough to work out in the first place never mind to try new things that are good for your health. On the flip side, you are tied into a partnership that doesn’t work without both parties. Therefore, you’ll feel guilty for wanting to skip your weekly power walk if you haven’t got a great excuse. Even then you won’t like the feeling of letting down your friend.

    Use An App

    Apps are the millennial way to lose weight and get fit. With the help of the App Store and your smartphone, you can log in at any time, anywhere in the world. By writing down your calorie intake, it’s easier to see if you are making errors or are on the right track. Plus, this Noom review points out that the application puts you in contact with a real-life coach. As a result, these people are willing to send reminders that range from gentle to a rocket up the butt if you shirk your duties. Again, it’s hard to dismiss.

    women s left and right hand
    Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

    Log Your Calories

    And that doesn’t only mean the ones you consume. As well as the stuff you eat, you need to focus on the things you burn off too. Why? It’s because counting all your kcal will give you the full picture. Subtracted from your daily allowance, you can figure out how many calories you should be eating on a given day to reach your targets. As a result, sneaking in a sugary snack won’t sit well in your head. After all, you know for sure that it’s taking a significant chunk from your budget. A good tip is to read the packaging for info.

    top view photo of woman lying on mattress
    Photo by The Lazy Artist Gallery on Pexels.com

    Take A Break

    A rest day seems counterproductive yet it’s a useful tool. After one day off, you’ll feel as if you need to workout again very quickly. Otherwise, the feeling of a sedentary life takes over. So, taking two, three or four days off will make you sick to your stomach. Plus, a cheat day or a day off is essential to recharge your batteries and motivate yourself to go again after a long week.

    The one thing an exercise regime needs is consequences for your actions. Does yours have any?

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  • How to Boost Your Workout Motivation

    How to Boost Your Workout Motivation

    Getting up and feeling ready for an hour or two of exercise can be pretty tough. It looks great when other people do it and all, but what they don’t tell us on those Instagram posts is that it feels like a drag sometimes – and the energy simply isn’t there.

    Luckily, there are a few tried-and-tested methods of boosting your morale and making exercise both fun and enjoyable again. It’s not just about finding a workout you enjoy, though, even if this also has a lot to do with it.

    woman wearing blue and yellow long sleeved shirt walking near white and yellow painted wall
    Photo by Godisable Jacob on Pexels.com

    Have a look at the tips below and you might just be able to get your hours of exercise done this week. It will feel great afterwards, you know, even if it doesn’t feel that good right now.

     

    Find the cardio that works for you

     

    A lot of people dread exercising because they hate cardio. It’s understandable enough – jogging through each neighbourhood of your area and pretending like you’re not hating every second of it is difficult to convince yourself to do.

     

    What these people seem to forget is that there are so many other ways to get your cardio done than just through jogging. Forget about the treadmill as well by the way; if you think jogging outside is boring, it’s not going to be any better when you’re cooped up inside a gym.

    man holding rope on both hands
    Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

    Try circuit training instead. By making it a HIIT, you won’t even have time to get bored with the exercises before you’re off to the next one. Have a look at this article to learn more about HIIT circuit training, and see if you can squeeze in 30 seconds rest between each circuit.

     

    One of the great things with interval training is that the short intervals work on your motivation as well. When you’re not seeing black spots and tasting blood in your mouth, it suddenly feels a bit better to exercise – and you’ll push yourself a bit further since you just had 30 seconds of rest.

     

    Spice up your sessions

     

    Motivation tends to lack when we do the same exercise routines over and over again. Sure, you might be adding a bit more intensity and trying to make it a bit more challenging, but it doesn’t really matter when you’re tired of your routine.

    low angle view of woman relaxing on beach against blue sky
    Photo by Chevanon Photography on Pexels.com

     

    Try to do shorter and more intense sessions instead, and look for other workouts that you might enjoy. By speeding it up a bit, you’ll wake up a bit and shake yourself out of the slow and steady jog you’ve become so used to.

     

    Try to sprint for a minute, for example, before you’re back to jogging steadily for three minutes, then sprint again for another minute. You will feel it in your legs afterwards and exercising suddenly seems a bit more rewarding than it used to.

     

    Another way to spice up your sessions is to find a set of workout clothes to get you excited about exercising again. It’s such a simple way to make a difference and it really works; click here

    for some great discounts on branded workout clothes and get ready to look fantastic while exercising.

    woman wearing pink and black sports bra holding towel
    Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com

    Reward yourself

     

    Having something to run for, besides the weight loss or the muscle gain, will really help you to find that motivational boost you’ve been looking for. Try to set a post-workout routine that makes it a bit more tempting to get out of the house and head off to the gym.

     

    While some people are motivated at the mere thought of eating a large meal after a workout, you might need an extra little push. Buy yourself some delicious protein shakes, for example, have a bath after you’ve showered to ease your muscles, enjoy a large cup of herbal tea to feel super healthy – or bake up a sheet of high protein cookies for later.

     

    While the feeling of having exercised properly often is rewarding enough on its own, it’s important to have other small things to push you forward as well. When your motivation is starting to drop, remind yourself of all the nice little things you can enjoy later and how much more rewarding it will feel to have that cup of hot chocolate after a jog.

     

    Sugar is exactly what your body needs after a hard workout, by the way, so this should keep you going for a while.

    woman pointing at sky on seashore
    Photo by The Lazy Artist Gallery on Pexels.com

    Don’t push yourself too much

     

    Talking about hard workouts; it’s important that you try not to make it too hard, at least in the beginning. A lot of people tend to go all out when they take up exercising again and this can kill their motivation, in the long run. Keeping it short and sweet, however, and focusing on squeezing in shorter exercises as often as possible is the key to success.

     

    That way, it’s way easier to convince yourself to go to the gym since you only have to be there for 20 minutes in any way. Talking yourself into an hour-long workout when you just want to curl up and watch Netflix for the rest of the day is quite difficult, so keep it short and you’ll be at the gym way more often than you used to.

     

    Walking is another way of doing this, though, and it can give you that extra boost of energy when you thought you had nothing left. Try to walk as much as possible during the week, and you’ll find that you actually have the energy to go to the gym after all. It’s like magic.

     

    Exercising is all about settling into a healthy habit and, although we fall out of it sometimes, your routine needs to be good enough so that you keep returning to it. Focus on the small things and keep your workouts shorter rather than longer – it just makes it a lot easier to follow through.

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  • What If You Could Fall In Love With Exercising?

    What If You Could Fall In Love With Exercising?

    women having exercise using dumbbells
    Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com

    Oh how we wish we could fall in love with exercise as much as we fall in love with dark chocolate on a bi-nightly basis, able to commit to the burn every day with a smile that won’t fade and a passion that can be paused for anything or anyone. That’s the dream right there, and one we share with so many women.

    It’s being able to love exercise. Not because we want to lose weight or shake off those flabby bits, but because it makes you feel happy, centred and fantastic about you and your world, in the same way chatting to your best friend does or dancing to your favourite songs in just a towel after stepping out of the shower. That’s the same sort of love you want to have for exercise. And you can because exercise is epic at making you feel awesome and making your life so much richer.

    So, without further ado, here are some simple ways to fall in love with exercise, and turn your frenemy into your bestie.

    1. Find An Exercise That Makes You Smile

    Shock horror, no one enjoys lifting weights. Nor does anyone enjoy running a marathon. So forcing yourself to do these things is a surefire way to begrudge the very idea of hitting the gym. But to get fit and reap the benefits of exercise, you don’t need lift weight or pound the pavement. No way. You could go salsa dancing, join a yoga group, get into rock climbing, swim twice a week – anything. So find the one you enjoy and stick to it.

    1. Give Yourself An Exercise Why

    Now that you have got a couple of exercises that don’t make your brow furrow, you want to give yourself a reason to keep at it – a reason why. This is because losing weight is not a reason packed full of joy. Instead, each attempt will feel like a chore. It’s a much better idea to exercise because it makes you feel good, it fills you with confidence, you’re picking up a skill, it’s good for your sleep issues, our libido has skyrocketed and your depression has reduced. Those are the reasons why you should cling on to.

    1. Never Train Alone

    Nothing is going to give you that get up and go more than exercising with someone. It’s having that person to chat to and bounce off, inspire and be inspired by. It doesn’t matter if you get into the habit of doing an evening park run with your best friend or you book in with a personal trainer at somewhere like Elite Training – having someone to exercise with will make the whole thing a million times more enjoyable. You could even grab a coffee and have a proper gossip afterwards and use this as some valuable catch up time, which we all know to be super-important the older you get.

    1. Get All The Gear

    It might sound incredibly superficial, but having the right clothing and gear can work absolute wonders when it comes to motivation and enjoyment. It could be slipping into a pair of new running shoes or slipping into a pair of tight leggings that perks you up, which is because when you look good you feel good too. Try and opt for brighter colours though these little suckers can really cheer you up.  

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