A Single Trick Can Get You to Your Exercise Goals

Do you always exercise as much as you want to? Or do you occasionally miss a workout? You are not alone if you could do with a little more exercise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 23% of American adults ages 18 to 64 meet recommendations for aerobic and resistance exercise [1]. That means 3 out of 4 fall short.

What if you could work out more, and see better results, easily? That is, what if the strategy did not involve working out harder or longer, or waking up earlier, or hiring a personal trainer? It turns out that for most people, there is a simple way: put on activewear that you like.

The news media recently reported on a poll that investigated Americans' reasons for skipping planned trips to the gym[2]. The poll, conducted by PollStat and sponsored by Trunk Club, found that a whopping 92% of respondents would exercise more if they liked their activewear!

Buy Nice Clothes

We do not mean dresses and fancy suits, although you will look better in yours if you get more active. Instead, gym clothes that make you feel good can be more motivating. The poll found that 32% of people skip the gym because they do not have clothes they like. More than 2 out of 3 respondents said they feel judged at the gym sometimes because of their clothes.

Selecting clothes that are comfortable and that fit properly is common sense, but for many people, that is not enough. For them, it is just as important for them to have a style and color scheme that you like. So, when shopping, bargain basement is okay if you like and will use those clothes, but, if not, it may be worth the extra few bucks to buy clothes you love and will actually wear.

Consider the following tips.

• Shop sales, and you may get away with some great bargains, such as two-for-one.
• One set of workout clothes is good, and two are better. Be sure you stock up on enough so that you always have a clean set when you need one.
• Buying new clothes if you have not worked out in a while can help you get back on track.
• Buy clothes that make you feel good.
• Dress for the season. More than 2 of 3 poll respondents do not try to make exercise a priority when the weather gets colder.

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Get Dressed

If getting to the gym and working out seem too daunting when it comes to workout time, making a smaller commitment may do the trick. Simply putting on your gym clothes and shoes can make you feel more motivated to exercise. At least, it does for 92% of the respondents to the OnePoll poll. These tips can make it even easier. 

• Put out your workout clothes and shoes beforehand. This may be before you go to bed if you are an early morning exerciser, when you get to work if you are a lunch-time exerciser, or before you leave home in the morning if you are an evening mover. That way, when it comes time to exercise, putting on your clothes and shoes takes almost no effort.
• Always have a couple of workout outfits clean and ready to go so you never need to be stuck washing your gym clothes instead of wearing them. In fact, 31% of poll respondents say they may skip workouts because they have no clean gym clothes that they want to wear.
• Keep gym clothes and shoes wherever you may need them, such as at home, in the car, and at work.

Manage Stress

More than 1 in 4 poll respondents answered that they sometimes skip the gym because of stress or tight deadlines. That not only puts a damper on fitness, but can worsen the situation, since exercising is a great way to manage stress and increase focus and productivity. Skipping the gym may free up a bit of time, but the price may include increased stress and fuzzier thinking.

Another strategy may be necessary if overwhelming stress or looming deadlines are causing you to skip workouts. Simple stress management techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, can help. To combat tight deadlines, it may be possible to save time by doubling up exercise with other activities, such as walking to the supermarket or using a pedal pusher while typing at a computer.

Start Today

Another common theme in the OnePoll results was that tomorrow never comes. Over half (53%) of respondents said they tell themselves that they will start their workouts tomorrow, but do not. Instead, starting today can be a good idea. Or, pick a specific start date, figure out what you need to do to be prepared on that date, and get yourself ready. You may need to buy clothes, write out your workout, or phone a friend to be sure that there is no backing out at the last moment.

Use Lark

Lark will not buy you clothes or finish your work projects ahead of schedule, but this 24/7 coach may help you get in a few more workouts. Lark is compassionate and will never judge you, so no worries if you are among the 69% of people who feel judged at the gym. And if "tomorrow" never comes for you, Lark can help remind you of your healthy intentions...today.

Are you among the 35% of people who sometimes feel too tired to get to an exercise class at the gym? A few weeks of sleep coaching can help you get over that hump. Some healthy lifestyle chances, such as making nutritious food choices and managing stress, can keep you moving, too. Hitting exercise goals can make a difference in your life and health, and Lark can help.