I’d say the vast majority of you are like myself, in that I’m addicted to going to the gym. I really enjoy exercise and pushing myself, and I know that if I miss a day, I’m going to regret it. However, not everyone is like you and I. It’s important that we realize that, but it’s also vital that, as pushers in fitness, we learn how to build addicts.
There has been such a negative connotation around the term “addict,” mainly because we associate an addiction with something negative. However, an addiction to fitness, if handled properly, can be extremely rewarding.
Here are my five tips for building a fitness addiction:
1) Find a great playlist! Although it may seem like a simple step, a great playlist can make a world of difference to a workout. Make sure you have songs that will pump you up, but also keep a steady pace that’s good for you. Remember too, no one else is going to hear your playlist. It’s going straight from your MP3 player to your ears. So, if you want to rock some Miley Cyrus halfway through a workout, more power to you!
2) Find something you love! Exercise isn’t always going to be fun, but you’ve got to find something in it that you enjoy. For me, I enjoy things I’ve never done before that challenge me. Over the past six to eight months, it’s been box jumps. I really love box jumps. I try and incorporate them into my workouts at least a couple times a week. Not only do I currently get psyched to do box jumps, but also it helps motivate the rest of my workout. For example, I know I’m churning out some cardio right now, but in half a mile I’m going to do a circuit with box jumps. You may not like box jumps, but find something you do like that will give you something to look forward to.
3) Be prepared! Getting your things together for the gym can be extremely difficult. If you’re tired, you don’t want to put in the effort, and if you forget something, you’re likely to skip the workout. For example, one day a couple of weeks ago I forgot my headphones. I got dressed, realized I had forgotten my headphones and struggled to keep focused throughout a workout. About a month ago, I failed to bring a towel with me to shower after my workout, and skipped my workout altogether. Be prepared, and don’t miss workouts.
4) Become a minimalist! How much stuff do you need to take with you to the gym? If you get dressed there, and you’re going to shower, make sure you have your clothes, MP3 player, shoes, socks and a towel. If you are swinging in after work, forget the towel. If you want to keep track of your calories and heart rate, you may add that component, but keep the stuff to a minimum.
5) Don’t miss days! Today, I’m going to miss the gym. I have a commitment after work and will be working straight through lunch so that I can leave here around 4 p.m. Now, I won’t miss tomorrow and I won’t miss Friday. In fact, I will try to get in one weekend day to make up for today. However, I’m a fitness addict. If you aren’t to addict level yet, and you don’t feel anything for missing a dedicated gym day, then don’t miss! You must build a routine and find something in yourself that makes you want to experience that workout. You have to learn to love the way you feel each and every day from including fitness in your routine. At that point, you will have officially become a fitness addict.
Tyler Montgomery is the editor of Club Solutions Magazine. Contact him at tyler@clubsolutionsmagazine.com.
