Motivational workout tips

Motivational workout tips

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Looking to loose those extra few pounds? We've teamed up with Ten Pilates to bring you a different motivational tip each day in November. Here's what we have so far

1)     Find a workout buddy so you can both push each other to work that little bit harder.

2)     Set an achievable goal....that might be to think ahead to the summer beach holiday and that skimpy bikini you want to wow the boyfriend with.

3)     Prioritize your workout - block it out in your diary and treat it like an important meeting which can on no account be missed.

4)     Train early, no one wants to train on dark evenings. 

5)     Sign up for a marathon (or another sports event) – something that you know you need to train for in order to be in your best shape in time.

6)     To avoid the excuses of ‘it’s too early I don’t want to train’ you need to make things as easy as possible for yourself. Set your alarm and put this on the other side of the room so it makes you get out of bed. Get your workout gear out and ready the night before and place a picture of your goal (that dress or perhaps the celebrity figure you aspire to have) to give you motivation to train.

7)     Make it fun – try something different with your workout that you can enjoy with friends like Dynamic Pilates or Zumba.

8)     Reward yourself with healthy snacks or little gifts – buy that body-con dress you’ve been coveting for the last few months and feel great wearing it!

9)     Get a Personal Trainer – they’ll ensure you reach your goals in a realistic way by matching them to your workout – sometimes it just helps to have someone by your side urging you on!

10)  Buy yourself a fabulous dress for Christmas and let the thought of fitting into it stir you into action.

 11) Tell yourself that training in the torching summer heat makes you a mentally stronger athlete. In the Madrid World Cup last May, athletes from hotter countries suffered with the rain and cold, whereas us tough Brits stuck it out.

12) Stick to a training plan. Print it out and put it somewhere you will see it so you can't forget. And always have a backup plan in case the weather is just too bad - then you can switch and improve in another area.

13) Do the training that you really enjoy doing in summer and limit it in the wintr months: mountain biking, long rides and cross-country runs. A mountain-bike ride will keep you much warmer than road cycling, as well as giving variation in your speed.

14) Winter is the time to work on weaknesses, make changes and try new ideas. Winter training is about flexibility and compromise, so do not set a training programme that does not allow for this.

15) Be strong. If you have trained solidly over the summer and have a definite plan for the coming months, then you can afford to miss a session here and there. But remember: consistency is king.

16) Enjoy the odd break; enjoy the temptation of the summer months. Eat healthily and sensibly, but allow yourself things you like; otherwise, life isn't fun.

17) Be realistic with your training programme but keep going, even if you're just doing the bare minimum to tick over. If you do a third of your normal training for a week you will still keep fit, you just won't improve much.

18) The summer months are a time for the family, so get them involved, too. Organise a family road ride that is fun, challenging and active

19) There is nothing worse than being stressed over the whole summer because you are trying to avoid everything you enjoy. Let yourself go. You should enjoy the summer - and then get serious.

20) Try something new! Getting that buzz that comes from trying something new might just help to see you through the hot summer days. If you’ve never tried Dynamic Pilates or spinning then give it a go!

21) Make the most of the daylight hours and stretch your legs during lunchtime to avoid SAD. It’s important to get fresh air during the summer, since we spend the majority of our time cooped up inside avoiding the cold. Find a warm coat and wrap up warm!

22) Maximise your workout. If you’re likely to reduce the amount you train this summer, it’s wise to invest in some Personal Training to boost your workout and focus on the areas you really need.

23) Put some fast-tempo tracks on to motivate and get yourself in the mood. We personally love a bit of David Guetta or LMFAO to get the blood pumping.

24) Set your alarm early to get your workout over and done with at the start of the day, then plan an evening dinner out or trip out with friends to reward your early morning workout.