It is cold, rainy and oh so hard to get to the gym at the moment, but don’t let that stop you from getting your work out in…

__________________________________________________

All Fit Club Perth girls wearing Bonds Sport

SHOP THE LOOK AT END OF POST

Photography: Mario Recchia

 

I feel I have reasonable grounds to share my thoughts on why it is not a good idea to skip your work out… I am injured, I am tired and I am a recluse in winter, but I still manage to get to the gym at least twice a week. An ‘A’ for effort over here. I know I am not alone when I say I am a recluse during winter – most of us find our moods and attitudes change as the temperature drops (check out the Accor infographic below to see the facts and figures!)

Now, I am no fitness expert, but I know a thing or two about what happens to you when you do skip out on the gym (outside of the obvious lack of physical exercise) because I have been there before and I don’t like it!

So, why should you just suck it up and get out of the house?…

• They say it takes a minimum of 21 days to create a new habit, and around 66 to build and shape that habit. If you skip class, you are breaking your routine and effectively putting a speed bump in your journey to forming a good habit. You think it is hard dragging yourself to class or the gym because you are sore or tired? It is even harder to get back into it all once you have mentally made the decision to skip out on a class or two. You are far better off not skipping class and sticking to your set routine, even if you are working at a 50% capacity and being a little lighter on yourself. The fact you made it to class when all you wanted to do was flake is already an achievement that you can, and should be proud of.
• You will be kicking yourself if you don’t go. It is like FOMO but worse because the only thing you can be upset about is your lack of will power. Trust me, when I skip a class, all I think about is how terrible I was for not going, and how I now have to make sure I eat extra healthy until I get back to the gym. Save yourself the guilt and just go. See reason number 1 for a little more encouragement.
• You will feel fantastic if you push yourself when you didn’t necessarily want to. You went, you did, you conquered. You feel successful and proud after a good workout, but even more so when you complete a work out that you were so close to bailing on.
• You will miss out on precious ‘me’ time if you skip the gym. For a lot of people, gym time is cathartic. Blowing off a little steam and taking your mind away from whatever else is going on in your day is an important part of a daily routine. Skipping your hour or so of exercise means you are missing out on your time away from your stressors.

So, next time you are sitting at home, contemplating whether or not you should go to the gym, take it from me – just do it!

SHOP THE LOOK NOW