Getting Back on the Horse- 7 Tips to Make Fitness a Habit Again

Though I absolutely adore my girls, this post isn't about horses. Rather, it's about reestablishing a fitness routine. Whether you have been out of the habit for a while or are hoping to establish a healthier, active lifestyle, here are seven helpful tips to keep you motivated.

One of my Mustang mares, Tori, is pictured here purely to grab your attention. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. lol

Whether you are looking to create good fitness habits or trying to get back into your routine after an extended break, staying consistent can be challenging. And this is true for many of us, including me.

I love being active! More specifically, I love lifting weights. There is just something about strength training that makes me feel a little more alive. I'm in a better mood and generally feel happier after lifting. If I'm being totally honest, I truly work out mostly for the happy hormones. My days tend to be a bit better if I kick off the mornings with a good sweat session. Up until this year, I have been super consistent with my routine and have seen significant progress. But then January 2023 rolled around and I had to have major surgery. During my last workout on the morning of my surgery, I even teared up thinking that it would be at least eight weeks until my next workout. As I'm typing this, I realize that it sounds silly, but I honestly was sad to be sidelined.

Once I was FINALLY cleared post-surgery, I went on an extended trip to South America (future blog post) with my family. And while I walked a crazy amount each day, I wasn't "working out." Once home, I was back on the road one week later, but this time for work. And here we are in April, and I'm still not on a consistent routine. Prior to the surgery, I would have made working out a priority while traveling. Yet, it was so easy to tell myself that it was okay to take another week or two off. But do this a few times and MONTHS go by. I have a feeling that if you are reading this, you can probably relate or have done this at least once in the past. Am I right? It is hard to get back into a consistent fitness routine, even with the best intentions.

Yesterday, a random Tuesday, I ripped the band-aid off and returned to strength training. The trick now is to keep it up. Here are seven helpful tips to keep you (and me) going toward achieving our goals.

1. Tell your family, your friends, and the world that you are creating new fitness habits. Saying it aloud or writing it down helps to cement your intentions. Plus, accountability comes into play, and you will be more likely to follow through with it. I am now sharing my workouts on my IG story. Since I'm putting it out there for everyone to see, I'm going to keep it up. Plus, I'm hopeful that sharing my routine will inspire others! If you want to follow my progress or try the workouts, click HERE.

Here is an example of my workout that I shared on Instagram

2. Plan it out! Be specific and write down what you will be doing ahead of time. This is helpful because, again, there is magic in writing it down. And secondly, when you don't really have a plan other than "work out" it will be way easier to skip out on it since you haven't committed to something. Be as specific as possible. For example, rather than just planning to go for a walk, have the route and/or the length of time preplanned.

3. Allow yourself to stop. Wait, what?? Some trainers and coaches may disagree, but this piece of advice has always served me (and my clients) well. We all have days where we are not feeling it even with a plan in place. When this happens, tell yourself that you are going to do the activity for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, if you still feel the same, you give yourself permission to quit for the day. I share this advice confidently because 9 out of 10 times, once you get started, you will keep going. Allowing yourself to stop if needed makes starting the activity much easier... and starting is the hardest part. Once you accomplish that, you will be good to go. See, it's not that crazy after all. lol

4. Aim to work out at least every other day. Truthfully, I wanted to put "never miss more than two days in a row," but that sounds a bit negative. lol Rest days are important too, but aim to take only one rest day at a time, especially when you are still forming a fitness habit. With that said, when starting out, you may feel sore or fatigued. Feel free to substitute a nice walk for an intense workout. This counts as exercise too! Too much time between workouts makes getting and staying in a groove harder. Of course, illness and injury are the exceptions.

5. Celebrate consistency! Reward yourself once you hit milestones, especially during the first month: one day, three days, one week, two weeks, three weeks, one month, etc. Whether it's a simple affirmation or a little splurging on yourself, celebrate that you are sticking to it.

6. Work out with a friend. Finding your weekly rhythm is easier when you are accountable to someone else. The social component can make it more enjoyable too. With that said, if they cannot make it, be prepared to work out solo.

7. And finally, make it FUN! Do what you enjoy and skip what you don't like. Personally, I am not a fan of spin class. It has so many awesome benefits, but it's just not my thing. On the other hand, I love running, rowing, hiking, kickboxing, dancing, etc. Make a list of your favorite activities and incorporate those into your workout plan. Focusing on what you enjoy is the ultimate key to consistency.