RETRAIN YOUR BRAIN

ARE YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES GOING TO WASTE? IF IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU MADE AN APPEARANCE, THIS IS THE PEP TALK YOU NEED TO MAKE A COMEBACK

Let’s face it: life often gets in the way of our training goals. When work starts to pile up, family life calls or you feel a bit under the weather, it’s all too easy to skip that gym trip.

It quickly becomes a habit. Months can pass before we set foot in the gym again.

All that motivation we felt … gone. How do we get it back after so long?

1. GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS

Returning to the gym after a long break can feel pretty intimidating. It’s almost like you are a complete beginner. How do you get over that feeling? The first thing you need to do is to just get moving. Feeling often follows action, so any affirmative behaviour you can take towards getting yourself back in the gym will often sow the seeds of new motivation. Throw your gym bag in the car and just start driving.

Getting your body to move in a new direction will activate your mind to new possibilities.

2. JUST DO IT

Often when we don’t want to do something we procrastinate and put it off. We are all master procrastinators. The only solution to this is to just do it. Make a snap decision to go to the gym and stick to it.

Block out all other thoughts. Give yourself three seconds to pull on your coat and get in the car.

Don’t second guess it. Just get in and go and before you know it you’ll be back in the gym doing something you enjoy.

3. START SMALL

Often we put too much pressure on ourselves when it comes to our workouts, especially if we have been super fit before.

Forget about all of that. Your first session back doesn’t need to be that of a bikini model.

Do something you enjoy and don’t push it too hard. Just enjoy moving your body and listening to music and maybe catching up with some friends you haven’t seen for a while.

Ease yourself in gently and you’ll be training hard again in no time.

4. INVEST SOME MONEY

No, not in the stock market — in some new gym gear! One way to get yourself back in the gym is to buy some new clothes and equipment that will force you to commit.

Get some new gym clothes that make you feel great and ready to workout. Training in a baggy Tshirt and trousers isn’t very motivating.

Better yet, buy something you want to wear but don’t feel ready to just yet. Set a goal to wear it within a month or two months. Then make a plan to get there.

5. REMEMBER WHY

There was a time in the recent past when going to the gym was no problem. What changed? Was it work? Your relationship?

Only by analysing where things went off the rails can we start making it right.

It’s easy to fall into an automatic routine of bad habits, but by shedding light on our unconscious behaviours we can start changing them for the better. Things lose their scare factor when we look at them objectively and, more often than not, our purpose for training comes roaring back.