New Year, Better You: Four tips on how to make exercise a habit

New Year resolutions often focus on adapting healthier habits, particularly a renewed vigor for exercise. While you can technically start that wellness kick anytime, there’s extra motivation for getting your body moving after all the holiday feasts, and before beach season starts! As Angela shared in her article, exercising regularly is one of the more difficult habits to build. I should know: I’ve been there! But I’ve also worked through that funk to finally go to the gym regularly for almost two years now, so if you’re struggling to stick to your fitness goals, I’m sharing my own story in the hope that it inspires you to stay on track.

I first signed up for a gym membership back when I was in college. Going to the gym was great for a while, but the budget constraints of a student allowance, the extra commute to an inconvenient location, and an increasingly irregular class schedule made it difficult to include in my list of priorities. I opted out as soon as the mandatory contract period was completed.

At the tail end of 2017, understanding the concept of self-care better prompted me to be proactive about fitness once again. I was already investing a lot in my skincare and makeup, so why not work on my overall health as well? The opening of a new gym nearby also promised convenience, so I was out of excuses for not going. Attending a few trial sessions helped me to buy in.

Treadmills are extra fun when you have someone to “race” with!

It’s not about punishing yourself, it’s about getting stronger

This time around, I knew that I wanted to make the habit sustainable. Having the right mindset certainly helped! Rather than setting myself up with extreme goals like losing 50 pounds or achieving J.Lo’s abs, I started with something practical and constant: I want to be more limber. I’d like to be more physically active. I want to try new things. 

With realistic goals that focused more on what’s actually good for my body rather than the pressure to “look good”, the experience becomes more positive. It’s not about punishing yourself for the holiday bingeing, but more like treating yourself to getting stronger and gaining more energy. Check out some of our fab fitspirations to help you get motivated!

Combining dance cardio and muscle toning, Pound makes use of plastic drumsticks while tapping, lunging, and grooving to the beat.

Find a workout that you enjoy

I envy those who can just follow workout videos at home and stick to that schedule. A setup like that is obviously cheaper and more convenient. But I personally appreciate the bustling aura of a fitness center. The energy is inspiring, plus seeing everybody else pushing themselves can trigger a competitive edge to at least try and keep up with the activity.

Group workout sessions are a great way to discover what you’re into, if you haven’t already. I started with dance classes and dabbled in cardio martial arts. I think dance is the easiest to start with - everyone from teens to titas can be found in a Zumba class! After getting into the habit of regular exercise for several months, I started to challenge myself with isometric exercises once a week. Changing up your exercise routine helps, so you don’t have to be so “intense” all the time nor do you make things too easy.

If you don't want to commit to a one-year gym contract, various fitness studios offer per session or monthly arrangements. A gym pass subscription like ClassPass (previously Guava Pass) can even grant you access to a wide range of studios, so you can experience different fitness activities.

After warming up, it’s sparring time for this Muay Thai class

Keep track of the positive changes in your life

The physical changes are often the more tangible effects of regularly working out, but it improves your mental health as well. Once you get into the groove, your workout sessions will start to feel like a welcome escape. For that one hour, your undivided attention is a must, so you learn to push aside the stress of work or school for the time being. You have to keep up with the dance choreography, isolate the right muscles, or maintain proper form to prevent injury. It’s surprising how relaxing that kind of focus can be!

Another pleasant side effect of regularly working out is how it can help alter your eating habits for the better. When you’re busy exerting all that effort, you’ll notice how upping your protein consumption and scaling back on carbs will give you more sustainable energy levels. Knowing that you’ve been making good progress also helps you to choose food that keeps you aligned with your fitness goals.

I sometimes test beauty products at the gym for PV!

It’s a great excuse to dress cute

Comparing my current experience to the gym environment years ago, I’ve noticed how chic workout outfits have become! Thanks to the athleisure trend, the clothes are comfy, practical, and also stylish enough to wear even outside of the gym. I still wear a lot of loose-fitting shirts for comfort, but if looking on-point during a sweat session helps you get in the mood, or you want to show off your newly-toned arms, try getting kitted at Decathlon, SM's Surplus, Zalora, or even BeautyMNL. 

As for serving up some face, don't be pressured into creating a workout #FOTD. You do you! Go bare with nary a care, or use these tried and tested product recos to make sure that everything stays in place. Also, consider investing in anti-chafe and anti-perspiration solutions if you’re prone to getting rashes or feel like you sweat more than normal.

Making plans to work on your wellness this year? I promise you, it’s worth doing and worth sticking to! Remember: the goal is to keep both your mind and body healthy. Losing weight and having a slimmer figure may (or may not) be nice “side effects”, but what really matters is that it makes you happier and healthier.