So you didn't feel like a workout today, that's cool. But when your career calls for keeping others consistently motivated to exercise, you have extra reason to make sure you hit the gym regularly and on time. Two Atlanta trainers shared what they do on days when they don't feel like working out.
Elmore McConnell, a personal trainer and business owner of We Train Atlanta says he gives himself the same sort of pep talk he might share with a client. "I think about being around for my grandkids or how good I'm going to look for the fall events I'm going to attend," he said.
Jenny Askew, Balance Fitness owner and an American College of Sports Medicine credentialed health and fitness specialist, takes a different approach. "When I don't feel like working out, I don't!" she said.
But that's a pretty rare occasion in Askew's life. "It doesn't usually happen because I have strategies to keep me interested in my workouts," she said.
Three of her top tactics:
Variety
"I intentionally keep a lot of variety in my workouts, because I know I get tired of routines," she said. "There isn't one activity in my workout schedule that I don't enjoy. When you love what you are doing, you want to do it!"
Anticipating schedule conflicts
"I try to coordinate my workouts with my schedule," she said. "For example, I know that if I'm in my office all day seeing clients, when I get off of work, I'm going to want to do something high intensity. I know if I have a stressful day coming up, with big meetings, lots of out-of-office appointments and so forth, I will want to go to yoga to unwind. I make sure to plan the workout that will fit best with what I might feel like doing on a given day."
Skipping a day
"When Friday rolls around, I like spending time with friends," Askew said. "So I don't work out on Fridays."
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