We all do it.  We get up in the morning with every intention of working out AFTER work.  Maybe we even take that little extra step and pack our gym bag and put it in the car so we can just head straight to our workouts after work.  But about 3:45 it starts to creep in… the internal debate.  We toss back and forth all the really good reasons we have to NOT workout.  “I could get some laundry done, My friends are going to happy hour, I’m SO TIRED, I’ll workout tomorrow morning instead”  Before you know it you are heading straight home (or to Buffalo Wild Wings) and completely tossing out your good intentions you had earlier that day.  FAIL.  I’m going to share the little tricks that I do that gets my butt to my workout, rain or shine. 

Keep packing that bag

While it isn’t a sure-fire method to get you to the gym, it does take away the NEED to go home and get your workout gear.  If you have to go home before your workout, chances are high that you will be wandering dangerously close to your couch, which has a curious magnetic pull to your butt after a long day of work.  You also avoid other distractions such as TV, chores, significant others, kids… whatever. Just avoid home base all together until your mission is complete!  Back-tracking to the gym and then home again probably wastes a minimum of 30 minutes no matter how close you live to the gym.

Pack some mid-day ammo

For me, this is apples.  Apples are a great source of energy and a perfect pre-workout snack.  It keeps those tummy grumbles at bay without weighing you down.  If I’m out of apples I turn to a small cup of coffee.  If you don’t have coffee readily available at work keep a box of teabags at your desk.  Some people like to get all fancy-pants and drink energy powders or take pre-workout pills… in my opinion you really don’t need that kind of expensive crud but hey, to each their own. 

Keep post-it notes in your car

Since we are starting our day with such good intentions, we might as well leave our lazy late-day self a note in the car to remind us what we were going to do after work.  Don’t just write a note and leave it there for weeks.  Write a new one to yourself daily and be specific and positive!  ”You’re going to take cycling at 5:30 today because you’re winning!”  (I like to make mine funny) is a great example of a positive, specific note.  ”Get your butt to the gym cuz you’re a fatty”  IS NOT a nice note to leave yourself!!  Don’t be negative!  This may sound lame, but this really works.

Take a class

I LOVE group fitness.  I love the energy, team environment and most importantly… I love that it usually takes only an hour or less!  You always workout harder than you would on your own and you don’t have to think about it.  The inflexible class start time discourages you from skipping out because you HAVE TO be there.  You know it starts at 5:30 ends at 6:30 and you’re done.  Mission accomplished and you’re a sweaty rockstar!  There are SO MANY options out there.  From your box-gym classes to private studios to your total beatdown bootcamps (Shameless plug for Halo Effect Bootcamp) there are options for everyone!

Do not rely on someone else

Fitness magazines are always telling you to get a workout buddy.  You may be surprised when I tell you to do your own thing!  It’s hard enough to balance you own schedule let alone your’s AND someone else’s.  And let’s be honest, if your buddy calls and says they can’t make it because the 3:45 curse got to them, are you still going to go?  HECK NO YOU WON’T!  You’ll bail too because you were relying on THEM instead of yourself!  You’re a big kid… you can cross this street without holding someone’s hand.

You can WIN the battle everytime if you start doing these easy fixes.  Good luck and keep crackin!

Health and Happiness,

-H