About 50% of Americans have New Years resolutions that include weight loss or exercise goals. If you are in that statistic, then you have probably spent the past three weeks hitting the gym. But when you don’t see results, it is easy to get discouraged and quit. Here are six reasons your workout game might not be as strong as you want it to be:
1. You only have ONE workout buddy
Having a workout buddy sounds like a great idea…until the two of you lose motivation after three days and binge eat an entire pizza instead. Try to pick a few GFs and set up different days to work out with each one. Cycle on Mondays with Marie, do a little lifting on Wednesdays with Emma, and go running with Sarah on Fridays. Setting up workout dates prevents you from flaking, and helps you catch up with friends (bonus!)
2. You don’t give yourself a cheat day
Everyone should know that working out alone will never give you the results you crave. But some people think this means sucking down green juice 24/7, and that will only set you up for failure. Focus on eating healthy for the majority of the week, but give yourself one day to cheat a little! It will prevent you from relapsing into an entire box of cookies. Picking a day of worry free eating not only keeps you sane, but it gives you something to look forward to. And remember, almost everything is good in moderation!
3. You only do cardio
It’s tempting to watch the calories tick away on the screen of the treadmill, but you might not even realize what else you’re missing by running non-stop. Add in lifting to your workouts and you’ll go from burning to toning. Start with simple workouts to find your comfort level. Then start adding weights and more complex moves. The more you work at it, the bigger results you’ll see! If you need some inspiration for workouts, check out our article on 5 Winter Workouts To Try.
4. You don’t stretch
Sure, a little soreness the next morning is a great indicator of a tough workout, but sometimes it feels like days before you’ll ever be able to walk to the gym again, let alone actually work out. Beat the aches before they happen with some stretching before and after your workout.
5. You do “total body” every day.
This is another way to prevent excessive soreness. Try to focus on a different section of your body every other day or so. For example: On Monday, do cardio, arms and abs. On Tuesday when your arms are sore, focus on legs after your cardio with exercises for your calves, quads and glutes. Trying to exercise muscles that are extremely sore is difficult and unpleasant, so try to wait a day before repeating the same muscle groups.Â
6. Your music playlist is wrong
Make a playlist that is just for working out, and get hyped! Sometimes music can make or break your motivation, so if you head into the gym with the perfect playlist that you save especially for your workouts you’ll have all the motivation you need. If you have Spotify, they have preset workout playlists such as “Running” and “Workout.” We also reccomend listening to your party jams while you’re working out; it will give you extra motivation as you mentally picture the dress you will be wearing when you dance to that song on Saturday night.