Molly Struve (she/her)Disclaimer: This is not a technical post! However, the advice and suggestions given are from lots of technical people that I think many of us can relate to which is why I thought it would be worth it to share
Everyone wants to live a healthy lifestyle and feel good about themselves and their body. But figuring out how to achieve that is hard. Recently, Saron Yitbarek asked her Twitter family for advice on how she could help get herself into a workout routine despite hating working out.
For people who hate working out but do it consistently anyway, how do you do it? I get really into it for a bit, then it becomes such a chore. Do you eventually learn to love it? Do you hate it and do it anyway? What's your secret?22:43 PM - 02 Aug 2019
The response was overwhelming and it caught my attention. There were many fantastic ideas thrown out so I took the time to compile a summary list of the top responses. Here they are!
Eliminate any decision making
@saronyitbarek I do it first thing and try to involve as little decision-making as possible (decide what I'm doing, lay out clothes the night before) so I have less time to talk myself out of it.
And I save any podcasts I'm looking forward to listening to.23:32 PM - 02 Aug 2019
Consider super short workouts
Patrick Lee Scott@pat_scott
@saronyitbarek X3bar - 10 minute workouts that work great and you can travel with it - my girlfriend is showing me her new biceps as I type this23:56 PM - 02 Aug 2019
Start SLOW!!!!
@saronyitbarek I started with a minute a day for the first month. I added more over time, easing my way into it until it felt normal. Iโm on day 59218:39 PM - 03 Aug 2019
Mix it up
@saronyitbarek I used to hate working out but I love it now because I constantly mix up my workouts. I do different types that target different things each day. I get bored very easily so varying my workouts makes each day feel like it is something new.20:15 PM - 03 Aug 2019
โI hated feeling out of shape more than I hate runningโ
โจ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐@javascript_jess@saronyitbarek I hate running, but I had a goal to run a half marathon. So I did. I got in shape training for that, and now I just remember that I hated feeling out of shape more than I hate running. It's so much easier to maintain your fitness than starting again from 0!01:04 AM - 03 Aug 2019
Listen to audiobooks
@saronyitbarek I listen to audio books, which I enjoy. So I look forward to that and just do the workout. Iโve got an uncomplicated home gym which also helps.00:43 AM - 03 Aug 2019
Workout early in the morning
@saronyitbarek Another trick: we go early in the morning, and then you canโt decide if you hate getting up early or hate working out. Your brain gets so confused you just keep doing both!10:01 AM - 03 Aug 2019
Molly Struve ๐ฆ@molly_struve@saronyitbarek Couple keys for me:
- Doing it in the morning bc hardly anything will conflict so it makes getting into the routine easy. I get out of bed. Put clothes on, fall out the door. Usually I dont fully wake up until half way through the run then its like sweet, Im half way there.23:54 PM - 02 Aug 2019
Or, use it as a hard stop for your workday
Amy Codes ๐ป@theamycode@saronyitbarek I started off with Orange Theory. They charge you an extra $16 for every class you miss. I am financially motivated. ๐ฌ
But now I like it as a hard stop to my work day!13:33 PM - 03 Aug 2019
Get a trainer
๐ฅ Josh Branchaud ๐บ๐ผ@jbrancha@saronyitbarek Work regularly with a personal trainer and have them hold you accountable to your goals between sessions.23:28 PM - 02 Aug 2019
siltha@siltha@saronyitbarek I hated it bc when done by myself it was bad. With a PT I'm always doing new exercises, or slightly changing the base ones and I feel improvements after just one session. Good training requires a lot of knowledge in order to be effective & I don't have the drive or time to learn12:12 PM - 03 Aug 2019
Orange Theory got a few ๐
Noel Worden@noel_worden@TheAmyCode @saronyitbarek +1 for Orange Theory. It is financially motivating and Iโve never had two classes that have been the same.13:36 PM - 03 Aug 2019
forgetfulMap@kuhnhausen@TheAmyCode @saronyitbarek +1 for Orange theory (been doing it for 3 years now - never stayed on a consistent workout plan before), for the same reasons: classes are never the same and I get charged if I don't show up.13:40 PM - 03 Aug 2019
Reward yourself after a workout
Use social media to hold yourself accountable
Collin Webster@collintwebster@saronyitbarek Also set a goal and have others know about it; your self imposed social pressure helps motivate you. I chose to do a 2.4 mile ocean swim this September just after my 40th bday. I havenโt exercised since I got to college so it was a slow start but now I love how I feel.03:40 AM - 03 Aug 2019
Anything is better than nothing
Collin Webster@collintwebster@saronyitbarek Because I think you like podcasts (btw I LOVE yours and thatโs not just because Iโm a Red Hatter too) this one really helped me. The key for me was to realize anything is better than nothing and to focus on how it made me feel.
npr.org/podcasts/51032โฆ03:38 AM - 03 Aug 2019
Try an out of the box workout
nivi@niviachanta@saronyitbarek I used to hate working out (gym) & then I started taking circus classes
It was really hard and really fun so I go weekly and don't hate that specific activity
Also I bike to work so it feels like commuting not working out23:42 PM - 02 Aug 2019
John Doty@johndoty@saronyitbarek It was circus aerial (silks and rope and static trapeze and stuff) which led into trampoline and trampoline wall and flying trapeze. (It is all so much fun, I recommend it highly!)00:38 AM - 03 Aug 2019
Paidamoyo-Janet aka โMylesโ@erostribe@saronyitbarek I take classes like pole dance and aerial silk so it feels like Iโm having fun but Iโm really getting a workout22:45 PM - 02 Aug 2019
Understand the biology of working out
@saronyitbarek What made me start to really love it was researching what actually happens when you work out. I'd feel the burn and pain and stuff and see results and be like, "omg this is what I was reading about". Idk I'm weird like that... I still couldn't keep up T_T was fun while it lasted02:54 AM - 03 Aug 2019
Track your progress
ruzanna@ruzannaroz@saronyitbarek What helped the most was my Apple Watch data. Seeing an indisputable progress on my heart rate and my calorie burn was enough for me to stick to a routine โ 20 mins indoor cycling, every other day. (I looked forward to that every other day off.)01:21 AM - 03 Aug 2019
Find something you don't dread
@saronyitbarek Late on this, but the key is to find what you don't dread doing. I think it's different for everyone. Try lots of things until you find what's fun. I also enjoy doing it first thing in the morning. It helps get it out of the way. Good luck!15:56 PM - 03 Aug 2019
Have a friend or workout buddy hold you accountable
Tindra@tindrasgrove@saronyitbarek @mellowbeing Accountability helps a ton. Whether you have a workout buddy, report your workouts to someone, or just really like checking off boxes in your planner. Something that makes you feel like youโre gonna have to explain it if you donโt work out.19:36 PM - 03 Aug 2019
@saronyitbarek Iโm going on two weeks of consistently working out as of this morning! I hate it. BUT the thing that has kept me motivated is that my friend is doing it with me and my husband is training us, so between the three of us we have accountability!22:51 PM - 02 Aug 2019
Make it part of your identity
Sasha Laundy@sashalaundy@saronyitbarek there's also an identity shift. If you can start thinking of yourself as "I'm a person who exercises every day" or "I don't skip workouts even when I'm tired" or "I make time for workouts even when I'm busy" that helps a lot too20:20 PM - 03 Aug 2019
Eduardo Santos@edumicro@saronyitbarek @hnshah Eventually, you'll make it such a habit that even on bad days you're going to do it anyway, even if you're not in the mood. Because it becomes your identity, and if you externalise and think about your past and future self... they're going to appreciate your commitment.23:25 PM - 03 Aug 2019
One tweet also had a list of book recommendations that might be worth reading if you are interested in learning more about what it takes to form a habit like working out.
Andrea Petrone@ie_andrea@saronyitbarek Suggest reading a couple of books that can be very useful: The Power of Habit and/or Atomic Habits. Knowing the cue-routine-reward loop (actioned by the craving) is critical for changing habits!18:09 PM - 03 Aug 2019
In the end, you have to do what works for you. And what works for you might be completely different from everyone else and that is OK! Hopefully, if you are looking to start your own workout routine, these tweets gave you some ideas to help get you started. Now get out there and start crushing it!
