Mr Rob Jackson, a qualified PT (personal trainer) working with Insure4Sport, acknowledges that getting in shape may seem like a pipe dream for some.
“The thought of going to the gym can be off-putting,” Mr Jackson empathised. “Particularly if you’re not feeling in the mood, maybe a little sluggish or overworked.”
But every single person he has worked with over the years has said, at one point or another, “I didn’t want to come today but I’m really glad I did”.
“This sentence is one that all my clients have said at some point during their programme,” Mr Jackson affirmed.
The key to getting back into the gym is to remember how you felt after taking that brisk walk or working out.
“Remember how you feel after you’ve completed the workout you didn’t want to do,” urged Mr Jackson. “Cling on to the joy you feel and the accomplishment you’ve made, and use it the next time you’re about to talk yourself out of going to the gym.”
Another top tip from Mr Jackson is to “prepare and plan” to prevent yourself getting into the thought trap of working out “tomorrow”.
“Don’t just tell yourself that you’re going back to the gym – that will lead you to put it off until tomorrow, then the next day and then suddenly it’s Sunday and you’ve not been all week,” said Mr Jackson.
Instead, map out a clear plan for the week ahead and decide on which days you will commit to a workout.
Also, it really helps if the workout incorporates an activity that you really enjoy doing. “When you’re trying to get back to the gym, design your workout around your favourite exercises,” advised Mr Jackson.
But if you don’t have a favourite exercise, then adding an element of fun to the workout could be as simple as inviting a friend to join or listening to an episode of your favourite podcast while you train.
And “don’t panic” are Mr Jackson’s final words of reason. “It’s important to remember that it takes more than just one or two weeks to lose any progress that you’ve made.”
If you slack off from the gym, just reset and recommit to the workout by following Mr Jackson’s advice:
- Remember how good you will feel afterwards
- Make a clear plan for the week
- Make the workout more fun
- Don’t panic, you can start again
