Excuse-Proof Tips to Help You Get to the Gym!

Good morning! I hope you have a wonderful day today. The last two blogs have been of a more serious nature, so today I’m sharing something a little more light and upbeat. Today I’m going to be talking about going to the gym! Yay. (Insert sarcastic tone) 

If you’re anything like me, going to the gym is pretty much the worst thing ever and it takes SOOOO much motivation. I can pretty much make up any excuse to talk myself out of going to the gym. However, I know deep down that it’s actually good for me, I feel and sleep better, and I like being healthy. I have developed a few small habits, over the last couple of months, that have been a great help to get me back into the gym. So far, these small habits have proved to be excuse-proof! I’m going to share these tips with you in the hopes that it helps you conquer your fitness goals, as well!

Excuse #1: I don’t have any clean gym clothes.

Solution #1: Have as many changes of work out clothes as the number of days you go to the gym. So, if you are planning on going 2-3 times a week, make sure you have 2-3 changes of workout gear (ie. 3 pairs of leggings or shorts, 3 shirts, etc…). By having separate changes of clothes for each gym day, you won’t have the excuse of needing to do laundry because you have nothing clean. At the end of your workout week, do laundry for the next week. In the mornings before I go to work, I grab my shoes, a clean pair of socks, leggings, and a shirt that I can leave in my car. I also have a designated gym bag that I clean out every night and leave by my purse. I also feel the most confident about working out when I have gym clothes that I like wearing. And of course, almost every single piece of workout gear that I have is black, haha! Some of my favorite brands of workout clothes are:

• Senita Athletics
• Avia
• 90 Degree by Reflex

Excuse #2: I can’t seem to find any time to go to the gym.

Solution #2: Plan specific dates and times for the gym month-by-month. For example, in January and February, I decided that Monday, Tuesday, and Friday nights were my available times to go to the gym and I need to go as soon as I get off work. I used to get very overwhelmed with trying to plan when I would go to the gym on a long-term basis, but by having a monthly plan of when to go–I can be flexible with my schedule based on the month’s activities and it’s easier for me to plan on a smaller scale. Also, by going to the gym straight after work, I can also eliminate the excuse of “well, now I’m home and I’m just too tired to leave the house again.” 

Excuse #3: I am just too tired. 

Solution #3: This one ties in with #1 and #2 but it’s probably my biggest excuse. I think it’s my biggest excuse because, at the end of the day, I just want to be lazy sometimes. However, if you set a specific number of times you want to go to the gym, plan appropriately to help you achieve that goal, and follow through–the end results will make it all worth it! You will never regret doing a workout after you’ve finished your session. Even though you may be tired–working out may help you sleep even better and give you more energy for the next day! Also, make sure you plan for and pack snacks that you can have pre-workout and post-workout for any blood sugar fluctuations or panic-y, hangry feelings.

I hope you feel encouraged and motivated to get to the gym! Let’s get moving!