6 Things Fitness Pros Want You To Know

Secrets for staying motivated

1. A little prep goes a long way

Set out your exercise clothes for the next morning the night before. This helps you roll out of bed and get moving.

2. The best trainer is the one inside your head

Think about what’s inspiring you to stay active. You’ll get the best results if you know why you are showing up each day to do your exercise routine, whether it’s walking or a session at the gym. Is it to feel better physically or emotionally? Do you have a target you would like to achieve? Once you have a goal set in your mind, write it on a sticky note and then put in a place you’ll see every morning (the fridge door or bathroom mirror are good spots that you won’t miss). Also, tell yourself you’re doing a good job. You’ll be more likely to come back to your exercise of choice daily.

3. Team up with a friend

Invite a friend or family member who’s in better shape than you to join your workout. It will keep you accountable, and help you work harder. Alternatively, you needn’t limit yourself to friends nearby – thanks to technology you can share your stats online with fitness buddies to give your workouts a competitive edge.

Secrets for better workouts

4. Resistance training should be your top priority

To truly transform your body, you need to strength-train, whether that’s with body weight, (such as walking, push-ups or yoga) using free weights, resistance bands or a combination. You’ll not only build muscle but also burn fat and reduce our risk of developing osteoporosis.

5. 10 minutes a day can make a difference to your fitness

Researchers have found that people who exercise for 10 minutes every day are more likely to reach their fitness goals than those who exercise for an hour once a week. Not only is breaking workouts into tiny chunks more doable, but the time really adds up. Plus, when you exercise a little every day, it becomes part of your lifestyle.

6. Your body is a better detector of how hard you’re working than your fitness tracker

The formulas that devices use to measure physical exertion aren’t always accurate. Instead, be mindful about how you feel while you are working out. If your goal is to do an exercise routine at high intensity, you’ll know you’re in the zone if you feel wiped out after about 30 seconds.