Many of you will have, at least at some point, made a commitment to be healthier and perhaps attend a gym. You may have been wise enough to avoid the initial expense of long term memberships too and decided instead to opt for day passes for London gyms. But intention is one thing, action is another. So if you’re someone who has made a commitment to change, but are yet to start the journey, or someone who could use a little help to keep going then read on. Here we provide you with the motivation and tips to stay active and to make the most of those day passes for London gyms.

There are many benefits to being active. You will prolong your life expectancy and make it more enjoyable at the same time. But there has always been that age old problem of “getting to the gym”. Habits are hard to break, whether they are good or bad. So if you are already in the habit of not going to the gym, then the idea of attending may seem preposterous – you’ll find excuses easy, you’re tired, it’s cold, or the best of all, you’ll start tomorrow. You’ll need to break this cycle, and the good news is that, although it will take commitment and effort, once you do so, you will have established a whole new habit of attending the gym and that too will be difficult to get away from. No it will not be easy, if it were everyone would be fit and healthy and the ideal weight, but the returns and rewards are definitely worth the efforts.

Gear

Don’t think that having the best gear makes it easier, it doesn’t, and it is probably best to avoid the expense until your new habits are formed. You’ll need a good pair of trainers and some loose clothing and that’s it – except of course for your day passes. It is more important however to have the gear with you. If you intend to go to the gym before work, get dressed into your gym clothes, if you’re going afterwards, make sure you have them with you. Having to detour home for example is just another temptation to avoid going. The location of the gym matters too, the further you have to travel, the more reasons you’ll present to miss going altogether. The best way to avoid temptation is to never have the chance to give in to it!

Plans And Partners

You need S.M.A.R.T goals. Specific, Measured, Attainable, Reasonable and Time based. So rather than saying I want to lose weight, pick a weight you want to lose within a time period – say 2lbs per week for 6 weeks. Once achieved, review and change your goals.

Training partners will help. They are an extra reason to not missing a session as you will less likely let somebody else down as you will yourself. Be careful though in choosing. Pick someone who has similar goals, don’t pick someone training for a marathon, when you’re toning up. Pick someone reliable too!

Diary

Document your progress with a diary. Take selfies of your body to “see” the real progress that scales can sometimes hide. Also ensure that you keep a note of your times, achievements and targets for review. If you see progress, you’ll likely get through any moments of weakness when you are doubting yourself.

Help

You may already have a partner, but you can still get additional input, albeit at a price. Personal trainers are great for changing-up regimes, keeping things fresh and keeping you motivated. Remember however that there are good and bad ones, and they are running a “business”, the intention of which is to make money.

Mishaps And Recovery

Your decision to act is all about change for the better. However, no journey is ever free from mistakes, mishaps or slip-ups. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a session, otherwise you’ll come to associate the gym with punishment. Instead simply accept it and move on, ensuring that you keep the good habits you have established and not let any bad ones slip in.

Nothing stops training faster than an injury so beware. Always warm up and cool down properly and stretch too. It’s hard to get/stay fit with torn muscles, so learn to prevent them rather than having to recover.

Making a commitment to change is a big decision, taking the first step is a big achievement, but sticking to it is the hardest thing. Hopefully this advice will ensure that one day you’ll look back and recognise just how far you’ve come!