Fitness Motivation
How To Start Running AGAIN
Fitness motivation in short supply? We've all been there.
 |
One of the top questions that people ask me is, "How do you start running again after you've taken time off?"
Here's what I do when I need fitness motivation. Take a week and apply one of these tips each day.
1) Are You Getting Enough to Eat?
A lack of iron, Vitamin D or other vitamins can cause you to feel sluggish and un-motivated. So make sure that you are getting enough vitamins, and from a source that allows you to absorb the nutrients. The best way to get your vitamins is directly from your healthy foods such as dark green leafy vegetables...yummy!
Check out the runners diet for more tips on running nutrition.
2) Make An Appointment and Keep It
Showing up is more than half the fight, so make an appointment to go for a run and then keep it.
It helps to have friends that will hold you accountable, whether you have a running buddy you can litterally make an appointment to run with or you write on facebook where all your virtual running buddies can see that you are going to go for a 4 mile run today...whatever it takes to keep that appointment!
Joining a group of running moms who have the same demands as you, can be great motivation too. Here's an online group you might like to check out.
3) Break Your Runs Up
If you are pushing a jogging stroller or running in extreme weather, one long run might not be possible. Besides going for a long run can sound a little intimidating.
You might be able to better fit two short runs a day into your schedule, one in the morning and one in the evening.
4) Add Intervals
Doing a run / walk our some other form of interval training run, makes the run more interesting and can be a more efficient cardiovascular workout.
I usually do a run / walk of anywhere between 3 minutes of running and one minute of walking to 10 minutes of running and 30 seconds of walking.
Then I just have to get through the next 4-10 minutes of running instead of having to get through the whole run.
This is especially helpful in getting through the warmup part of the run. If I'm doing a short run, I'll usually cut the walk breaks once I'm warmed up.
If you really want to push it, instead of doing walk breaks, go for an easy run, with short intervals of sprinting. This is called fartleks.
5) Drink Coffee
Before I go out on my runs, I drink a mug of coffee for energy. Just keep in mind that caffeine dehydrates, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water.
You might also try some other form of energy drink such as 5-hour-energy, green tea or something that's not caffeinated but has electrolytes such as Nuun.
6) Listen to Music
Listening to music on every run might be a little like riding a bike with training wheels or swimming with inflatable arm bands.
However, sometimes music is just the thing you need to get through a run.
7) Take A Day Off
Whether you earned it or not, it's time to take a day off. There's nothing more overwhelming and downright annoying than trying to play catch up all the time.
Tomorrow is the start of a new week. Today, enjoy your family or a break from your family, whatever it is you need.
Take some time for yourself, celebrate the achievements you've had and instead of beating yourself up or trying to make up for what you did not achieve, plan to do better next week.
More Tips To Help You with Running and Fitness Motivation
Here are some more tips to help get you through a run.
