It's always important to make sure you're staying fit and healthy. If you set yourself some new years' resolutions this year that included getting yourself back to the gym, starting running again, or if your fitness game consists of 'I'll get back to it tomorrow...or the day after that' then, we hate to break it to you... but you may need our help.
Fear not. We're here to get you up to speed with our top fitness hacks of 2022, to keep you feeling great all year round. We've assembled these fitness hacks to get you back on your best game and to enable you to keep on keeping on. From fitness endurance, staying motivated, keeping up your nutrients and everything in between, we've got your back. So how can you keep fitness a top priority from January 1st all the way through to December 31st? Read on...
Find your squad
Staying fit and healthy is a whole lot easier with company, so if fitness sessions can become a time for socialising, you'll be far more likely to actually do them. Squats don't seem so bad when you can catch up with your mates at the same time.
Whether you rope in a friend or family member and plan a shared gym schedule, join a class, or find a new gym-buddy at your local gym, it's up to you. Trust us, though, you'll really see a shift in your motivation (and enjoyment) levels after adding a new recruit to your hype-team.
Don't just take our word for it either. A study published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology revealed that social influence (ie, the presence or influence of friends and family members) had a hugely positive effect on the probability of an individual taking part in exercise (or any activities, actually).
Make it 'not' fitness
We'll admit it, you you can't escape the need to break a sweat. When it comes to exercise (well, effective exercise, that is) there's no getting around the fact that you're going to need to get up and shake that booty - Netflix can wait.
The good news, however, is that staying fit and healthy doesn't have to be a bore. You can combine fitness with something slightly more enjoyable so you've got something to look forward to, or go beyond the gym completely. How about a Saturday morning gym session followed by brunch, a weekday exercise class made sweeter by the promise of happy hour drinks afterwards - or a football game in the park with friends?
Have someone tell you what to do
You know that horrible feeling when you walk into the gym with no idea what you're supposed to do and feel like everyone is watching?
Guess what: you don't have to experience that if you don't want to!
Get rid of your worries by having a personal trainer tell you what to do, so you never have to feel like the new kid at school ever again. This also means that you're held accountable for turning up and that you'll get tailored advice specific to whatever you want to achieve, making sure you don't injure yourself by using the incorrect form.
Win, win. Workout buddy, instruction and motivation all in one. Nice.
Find your motivation
We don't mean to get photo-ready here - it needs to get a bit deeper than that if you're going to find your real motivation.
Wondering how to stay motivated?
The key is to ask yourself what your motivation is. So you want to lose weight? Is it so you can get up the stairs without getting out of breath? Is it to feel more confident in those jeans?
Find your reason why and put a reminder of it somewhere you'll see every day. Try a sticky note on the mirror or a notification on your phone, if you're really struggling. Daily little reminders like that are key, and put a smile on your face, too.
Get inspired
Use FOMO to your advantage by following your favourite fitness bloggers on social media. It's practically guaranteed that if your newsfeed is full of sweaty selfies you'll be feeling like you've got to get down to the gym asap.'
Research 'how to keep fit' articles, scour the wealth of information on Insight (hint hint), take note of exercises you see people doing in the gym, ask gym staff for help - inspiration is everywhere. You've just got to look for it.
Keep yourself fuelled
Finally, it's always important to keep your body in tip-top condition, and that can't be achieved by exercise alone. Think about what you're putting in your body, keep nourishing yourself through the implementation of a healthy, balanced diet, and don't forget to supplement.
After all, if you're feeling like you could do with a little boost when it comes to smashing your workout (or just putting an extra spring in your step), The Energy Booster is always there to help (and cheer) you along the way.
References
- Carron, A. V., Hausenblas, H. A., & Mack, D. (1996). Social influence and exercise: A meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18(1), 1-16. Click here.
