What to do when you get tired of gym workout

By Mitch Felipe
Philippine Daily Inquirer

IT IS important to find purpose or meaning in the exercise you do to make it a lifelong habit.

Running, for example, is a type of purpose-driven exercise since you can go 5 kilometers, 10 km and up to 42 km or even more. Do cross-training activities because they will bring progress to your performance, fitness level, weight and health condition.

Relate the benefits you can get from cardio machines to your situation.

Can you imagine yourself using an elliptical trainer or recumbent bike for 20 to 40 minutes every other day for the rest of your life? Some people might get bored with these machines especially if they can’t understand the essence of the workout. But it’s a different story for an athlete advised to incorporate a 20 to 30-minute elliptical machine in his weekly program for cross-training purposes, which will improve his sports performance.

As a runner, I can last a 5 to 7-km run on a treadmill once or twice a week because I am aware how it will maintain or improve my marathon goals. Otherwise, I might always find an excuse to discontinue treadmill runs especially during rainy days.

Why one quits

One of the reasons health club members quit is because they just follow an exercise program designed by a trainer without knowing its purpose. If you want to finish a 30-minute recumbent bike, understand how applicable it is to your current situation. Its benefits include getting stronger thighs for outdoor cycling or improved endurance for an adventure vacation trip which involves a lot of walking, cycling and climbing.

Focus on improving your fitness level and performance when joining classes.

Many group exercisers believe that exercise classes are the solution to excess weight.

If you want to make group classes a part of your lifelong exercise commitment, balance them. Indoor cycling will improve and challenge endurance and lower-body strength. Martial arts-inspired classes which include punches and kicks will improve balance, core control, coordination, and whole-body strength. Mind-body classes like yoga or Pilates will improve breathing, awareness, core strength, balance and flexibility, which are all important for injury-prevention and sports performance.

Have the right expectations when getting a trainer.

What you need is someone to influence and inspire you to change for the better, aside from getting a great strength-training session.

A trainer can help you stick to your exercise habit only if you are aware of your present goals. Look for a trainer who will motivate you to make progress even without his services, who is passionate about your improvement and ready to help as you face anticipated difficulties along the way like boredom, lapses, and burnout.

E-mail the author at mitchfelipe@gmail.com.