How to Overcome Speed Bumps in Your Fitness Journey
At some point during your MK workouts, or any new fitness routine, you might be faced with a hiccup. Your motivation could be low and mentally, you are kind of struggling to keep going with the routine. Here are some of the common roadblocks you might face, and how to beat them!
“I don’t see any changes!” Don’t be upset if it’s been a few weeks and you aren’t seeing results just yet. It doesn’t necessarily mean you need to train more or eat less. Your body is simply adjusting. With consistent workouts and a healthy eating plan, the results should soon appear. In the meantime, you might have noticed these changes: your clothes might fit better, the exercises you struggled with at the beginning are now easier, you look forward to your workouts or you have more energy. That, ladies, is progress!
“I’m beat after a really tough day” We all have busy lives, but the key to beating this speed bump is thinking about the type of fatigue you’re feeling. Is your body tired or are you feeling mentally drained? Mental fatigue can actually be helped by exercise. Aim to workout for a short session on those tough days. You might find you end up staying longer once you start training. However, it’s important that you don’t confuse this with physical tiredness. If this is the case, then it’s important to listen to your body and rest if you feel it’s needed.
“Exercising at home is a waste of time” No workout is a waste of time! You need to find the real problem, which could be you aren’t pushing yourself because you’re working out at home. Be sure to push yourself just as hard as home as you would at the gym. Or, if you can, switch up the location! Try going to a nice park and doing your workout there, or bringing your workout to your backyard. You can also zoom a workout with a friend or two and workout together. If being home exposes you to too many distractions, try to find a new workout zone, or set up a "gym zone" in your home dedicated to fitness.
“My legs are sooo sore!” Post-workout soreness is common, particularly if you’re new to an exercise program and using muscles that haven’t been worked for a while. It’s a sign you need a little rest and recovery, so that any micro tears in the muscles have time to heal. Rather than doing another leg workout, try going for a walk to get the blood flowing and loosen the muscles, then try training a different area of your body (like focusing on abs or arms). Grab a foam roller or have an epsom salt bath to give your body a bit of relief.
We all face our own hiccups in our fitness journey. Hopefully these suggestions will help you beat them!
Xoxo, Melissa
