Say goodbye to bad workout habits this year with Psycle’s list of eight ways you might be sabotaging your fitness plus how to fix them
We’ve all been there, the alarm goes off and you snooze instead of jumping up and heading to that early morning workout. Or suddenly other things on your (never ending) to do list seem way more important than a 45 minute workout. Another day flies by and before we know it it’s the end of the week. And you haven’t even come close to ‘Sweating every damn day”.
Sabotage is a powerful thing. It can trick you into justifying all sorts of weird of wonderful tasks ahead of your self care. What’s going on behind the scenes is that our ego (which we all have) doesn’t actually love change, even if it is for the better. Sounds baffling right? It’s actually really common and it becomes a way we regularly berate ourselves for all that we aren’t doing.
Fear not! It really isn’t all doom and gloom. The first step to any change is awareness of a pattern and we’ve create a super quick check list to help you call time on your sabotage once and for all. Disclaimer alert, this is not to make you feel worse about anything. It’s simply to help you be aware of where you are at and to start noticing the little red flags you might have not seen dressed up as sabotage. We promise you’ll be flying in no time!
Here goes…
Article courtesy of inspire.psyclelondon.com
You Don’t Refuel
Do you find yourself skipping meals pre or post workout? Feeling lethargic and not performing your best because of it. Sabotage alert! And an easy one to fix. Our bodies need fuel and the right kind. Otherwise you end up making training much harder for yourself and a hell of a lot less enjoyable. Our suggestion, fuel up with the right amount of carbs and protein pre and post work out and you’ll be feeling strong in no time.
You Only Workout To Lose Weight
This is a super big sabotage! Why? Because it causes yo-yoing, stress and worst of all guilt if you miss a workout. Exercise of any kind must be aligned with positive benefits (of which there are many) vs a weight loss goal. That is not to say in some cases weight loss needs to be a factor but there are, however, ways of keeping the goals positive and aligned with your greater good … which keeps you feeling good! Keep this in mind when you’re working out and remember to bring a little self love into it the session.
You Don’t Schedule Workouts At The Beginning Of The Week
Here’s the secret: nobody who works out regularly finds the time, they make time! There is some truth in busy people achieving a lot through out the day. Fitness like any other task in life need planning in. Spend a little time at the start of the week slotting in your fitness into your calendar and stick to it. Somehow having that time blocked out in the diary means on a subconscious level you’re committing to it, if you get to Tuesday and you’ve not got anything booked in, chances are the week can fly by and the sabotage will kick in. So give planning a go.
You Don’t Get To Bed Before Midnight
Sleep is essential we know this. On average an adult needs 7 hours of sleep of minimum. In a healthy person HGH (Human Growth Hormone) is released in the first phase of Stage 3 sleep during the night. HGH gets released by the brain into the bloodstream, its release is part of the repair and restoration function of sleep. So the conclusion being not enough sleep seriously affects the production of HGH!
You’re Stuck In A Workout Rut
If you’ve got yourself stuck in a rut of going to the gym, not really knowing what you’re doing and more importantly not really being excited by what exercise you’re doing, this is a big sabotage alert. To the point above, exercise needs to be aligned with feeling good. Sure it’s a workout and we’ve got to feel that burn, but it should also be fun otherwise what’s the point? As adults we spend far too much time scheduling in all those things on our to-do list, but when was the last time you prioritised having fun? Our suggestion – get involved in some group exercise whether it is a spin class, your local run club or a cardio class at your gym. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and try new things, you may be pleasantly surprised by what happens.
You’re A Fierce Procrastinator
SUPER SABOTAGE. Now don’t feel bad if you haven’t even noticed this as a pattern before, it’s fantastic that you can do now. Be aware of all the tasks you’re putting above fitness, because they may not be obvious ones like ditching a work out for the pub or working late. If you’ve started re-arranging your spice cupboard, cleaning the house, doing laundry, or sorting out your taxes (which aren’t due until next year) take note! You may be stuck in sabotage. We’re not saying ditch the life admin, just be aware of what you’re putting before fitness and start to clock the sabotage before you’re in it.
You Miss A Workout Then You Sabotage Whole Week
This is an easy sabotage to stop! We can all be guilty of falling into this trap. Our suggestion – always start the week with a form of exercise. Don’t think about it, just do it. Regardless of how tried or sluggish you feel. The hardest part is always getting to your workout. If you can make it through the door or outside in your workout gear, you’ve already fought the hardest battle. The benefits are endless when we move our bodies. And you’ve kicked off Monday on a high – gotta be a good thing, right?
You Treat Yourself Every Time You Workout
This is a biggie. Treating yourself the minute you’ve worked out keeps you stuck in a loop. Actually what we’re aiming for in all areas is balance. So indulging post work out wont actually make you feel good, it almost cancels out all your hard work! The other extreme isn’t to stick to a super strict diet. Listen your body, and workout what you actually need to fuel with that’s healthy and sustainable. You’ll feel much better in doing so.For full article visit inspire.psyclelondon.com
