May 2, 2016

5 ways to fall back in love with the gym

Spring is officially here and the beach holiday countdown begins. Now is the perfect time to get your beach body ready, but  if you are anything like me it can be really hard to get over the hump of going to the gym. I recently managed to fall back in love with the gym and have some tips to share that worked for me.

Location, Location, Location – choosing the right location can help take the chore out of going to the gym. Try and pick one that is close to your nearest train station at home or one that is near your work place. You can then visit the gym during your lunch break or after work which makes it easier to develop a weekday routine, and then the weekends are yours!

Embrace being the new kid in class – now that you have chosen a gym, we now need to get over the newbie hump. Joining a new gym is a bit like your first day of school. You need some time to get to know your new environment and start making friends. Most gyms will offer group classes for members at all levels, so utilise this! Join in and get to know other members and you will be surprised to find out that you are not the only newbie around. Another great way is to take advantage of  any free personal training sessions-this is a great way to set your targets and put a plan in place for your workouts. Your personal trainer will also show you how to use the equipment properly so you can make the most out of what your gym has to offer.

GOALS – set yourself up for success! Remember there is no such thing as a quick fix, so set out a clear and achievable target and stick to it. Consistency is the best way to achieve your goal.

New gear –  Throw away those oversized T-shirts and ill-fitting bottoms and treat yourself to some new gym clothes. Looking good and feeling good will help to keep you motivated.

Mix it up and have fun – rotate your routine every couple of months as this will help make your workouts more effective. There are plenty of Instagram fitness pages that offer videos on different exercises for you to try that target specific areas. Have a browse and build your own exercise library.

Come on girls, we can do this!

Written by Joanne Green

Follow Jo on Twitter @justask_jojo