Sometimes motivation to exercise is just non-existent; in fact, it can be non-existent for weeks at a time. If you consider yourself a lazy girl we have the tips that will get you on the road to fitness.
We’re not suggesting you ramp it all up at once, but introducing these tips in over a period of time will definitely ensure that you stick to them, research suggests that it takes 66 days to form a new habit, so you’re not going to doing these without thought for quite some time.
It’s time to make a plan and get you from fab* to fit with these lazy girl habits. (*We’re pretty sure you’re fabulous as you are, but exercise is essential to overall health.)
Table of Contents
Keep it short
Choose short, intense workouts like High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) to work numerous body parts, get your body pumping and more importantly, allow you to work up a sweat in the shortest amount of time.
By doing HIIT, which means you incorporate an intense period of work with short recovery, your metabolism is elevated and you’ll be burning calories up to 38 hours after the workout is complete.
Workouts can be short if they're intense
Do something in the morning
Whether you opt for a full workout in the morning (not everyone has the time) or something short and sweet, getting active first thing will set you up in a good mood for the rest of the day. It could be something as simple as star jumps as the kettle boils, some wall press ups whilst you're in the shower or get the glutes fired up by taking the stairs two at a time as you rush around.
Add a friend
We know you’ve heard this before, but working out with a friend will provide some serious motivation, and a little healthy competition too; no one wants to be the first to give up. Also, if you make plans for an evening workout it’s much harder to cancel on plans when someone else is depending on you.
Drink more water
Again, nothing new, but incredibly important. More water helps your body burn more fat and being properly hydrated improves your workout performance. Sip on H20 all day long.
Add weights
Weights will not bulk you up; they’ll help create lean, strong muscle. If you overdo it on the cardio there is a chance you will burn fat and muscle. So to really see a change long-term it's important to include strength workouts.
When you train with weights you increase your muscle mass, and this boosts your metabolism, so you'll be burning more fat, even when you don't exercise.
Weights add resistance to moves and help build lean muscle
Know that you don’t have to work up a sweat
The small isometric moves in Barre and Pilates class will seriously tax your muscles without disturbing your blow dry. Yes, we obviously have priorities.
Eat right and spend less time working out
We all know that you can’t out-train a bad diet, so make sure you’re fuelling your body in the right way. Reduce the junk food and choose more fresh products. Protein is vital for your muscle, healthy fats will make you feel full, carbohydrates will fuel you, and vegetables don't carry many calories yet have the ability to keep you full as well providing a plethora of nutrients.
Make the most of spare moments
Can’t commit to a full hour-long workout today? Then spread your exercise through the day. Like we mentioned before exercise while you wait for the kettle to boil, do a small circuit while you wait for the bath to fill up, or try some glute (bum) exercises whilst you’re doing the ironing.
Make use of watching the TV
If you enjoy watching TV – and who doesn’t? – then try some moves that you can do whilst sat on the couch. You may annoy the people who are sat with you but just think about all of the toning that can be done whilst you catch up on your favourite programmes. Tricep dips off the edge of the couch will target bingo wings, seated scissor kicks will tone your inner thighs, and you can use a pillow or a bottle of water to add resistance to some simple rotations whilst sat down to help tighten your core.
Exercising at home is a great way to fit it into your day when you can
Use a fitness device
Invest in a FitBit, Jawbone, or some other kind of fitness tracker to help motivate you and encourage you to beat your own previous steps and activity levels.
Work towards a goal
Instead of signing up for a gym membership that you won’t use for months, sign up for a charity race. You’ll feel guilty if you’re not preparing your body for it, and you’ll want to make sure you're not panting after two minutes on the track.
Get a good night’s sleep
Sleep is not only important to help your muscles recover, but people who don't sleep for at least six hours tend to have higher levels of cortisol, which can lead to stubborn belly fat. Make yourself a night time routine that sees you prepare for your rest and relaxation time, and sees you get enough shut-eye too.
