Fit & Proper: Keep yourself committed to the gym regime

Your weekly health guide

Ekta Sareen, 24, is a public relations professional who is always striving to keep fit. A couple of months ago, she enrolled in a gym to get her regular dose of exercise. However, a few weeks down, she abruptly quit going to the gym, citing fatigue and lack of motivation. Now, she desperately wants to start exercising again, but is not sure if she will be able to sustain it.
There is no one who doesn't want to keep fit and look good. Going to the gym helps you achieve precisely that. A visit to the gym after a long day of work not only allows you to keep a check on your fitness levels, but also rejuvenates you and makes you feel good. People with demanding professions should take their workout seriously, but it should not become so strenuous that you end up hating it. Going to the gym or exercising should be enjoyable and must be treated like a ritual.

For those who gym regularly but struggle to keep themselves motivated, it is important to have a re-look at the type of exercises they are involving themselves in. Exercises at the gym often stay limited to "upper body" and "lower body", making gym activities boring and monotonous. You can ask your trainer to make exercises more interesting and enjoyable. It is also important to understand how much exercise your body can take. Very often, people push themselves too far, leading to fatigue and burnout.

Also, the "push culture" in gyms has to end. Going to the gym should not become a punishment. Working out is not a competition. It should be treated as a leisurely activity. It is vital that things are taken slowly at the gym. Rushing into exercise can severely harm your body. Varying your exercises once in a while is of tremendous help.

The ideal way to be regular at the gym is to chalk out a weekly schedule and adhere to it strictly. But you must be realistic about the number of times you can actually go the gym. Some of the other things that you can do to keep yourself committed to the gym is find a workout partner, listen to your favourite music while exercising and most important, realise the importance of keeping fit.

QUICK TIPS

• Learn to start enjoying to exercise: Feeling good should be the biggest motivation for going to the gym.
• Don't push yourself too hard: Take things slowly. When you feel that you're on the verge of a burnout, give yourself some time and take a break.
• Keep changing the type of exercises you do: Ask your trainer to introduce you to some fun exercises.
• Keep a tab on what you eat: There is no point slogging in the gym and then undoing all of that work by eating something unhealthy.
• Go to the gym at a time that is most convenient to you: Taking a friend with you can make your gym experience more pleasant.

Mickey Mehta
Holistic health and fitness guru