Tips for Sticking to Your Gym Workout Plan

Sticking to the gym workout plan is such a big commitment to make. People who are always rushing to get things done, meet deadlines, and trying to live a life often fall short of maintaining dedicated gym plans in their regular lives. Have you wondered why it is so difficult to keep up with the plans? Or, how can you stick to your workout plan?

Well, I will share some easy tips here that will make it easier for you to stick to your gym workout plan with consistency. Staying on track is a challenge, but it can give you your desired result easily. 

Set Realistic And Achievable Goals

The first thing that you need to do when you are setting your gym workout plan is to be realistic. Make the goals specific and short-term as well. If you want to lose weight, don’t set unrealistic goals like ‘I will lose 5 kgs in 2 weeks’. It is not a goal that you can achieve; instead, set the goal ‘Down 2 kgs by 5 weeks’, which is realistic and achievable. Now, if you are doing strength training, you can set goals like ‘increase squat weight by 5 kgs in the next 4 weeks’. This is a specific, realistic and achievable goal which is also designed for the short-term. 

Also, people make the mistake of setting goals that are vague. I myself have set goals like ‘I want to lose weight’. This is not a type of goal that can motivate you or help you in sticking to your routine. 

Build A Schedule That Is Consistent

If you are serious about the gym and want to be fit, then I must say, you should make your gym workout plan consistent. Don’t take gymming as an alternative, along with your other work like eating, going to the office or college, and taking a shower. You need to set a routine for yourself, based on your other commitments, assign specific days and specific times for the gym, and stay true to that. 

Pack Things Ahead Of Time

You wouldn’t believe how many times I have skipped gym because I gave excuses to myself that nothing is ready, it will take a lot of time for me to get ready, pack things and go. And with this excuse, I have missed many gym days. So from my personal experience, packing your gym bag, gym clothes, water bottle, and other needed things ahead of time is a big plus. 

Keeping your things ready will motivate you more to attend the gym and maintain your gym routine.

Make A Mixed Gym Workout Plan

If you are somebody who hates monotony and gets bored easily, then maintaining a gym routine and following the same exercises each day can be really challenging. Divide your full week gym workout plan into different types of exercises and different muscle groups. This will help you out in avoiding boredom and burnout.

• On Day 1, you can do upper-body muscle training
• Day 2, you can do Zumba
• Day 3, you can give stretching and yoga
• Day 4 can be dedicated to legs
• And on Day 5, you can train your core muscles 

If you follow a similar type of routine in your gym workout plan, then it will benefit you in staying motivated and make your workout fun and exciting. Mixing up body exercises and gym equipment-based exercises will keep you motivated through the week. 

Track The Progress

I feel tracking progress is one of the most effective and motivating ways of sticking to your plan. I use my smartwatch, which tracks all my activities, shows me my calorie burn, my heart rate rise, and speed. You can use such gear, and keep mobile apps where you can put the data. Add how many reps you have done for one exercise, see your weekly and monthly reports that show how active you were. 

Tracking the progress actually helps in keeping you motivated through the process.  When you see for yourself that you are doing good, growing, and getting closer to your goals, it can make you feel you can achieve your ultimate goal. 

Reward Yourself 

Rewarding comes along with tracking the progress. If you are consistent with your routine and if you have achieved any single short goal of yours, you deserve a reward. Rewards can be anything that makes you feel special. You can give yourself new gym accessories, give yourself a cheat day, or treat yourself with something that you have been desiring or give yourself a bit of happiness. 

Giving out treats is a good plan to keep you going and help you stay on track with ease. If you are working hard to keep true and firm to your plan, and it shows in the results, a treat can lift you up. The rewards push you further to make better progress next time. 

Give Importance On How You Feel 

Another thing, which is very important for you to understand, sometimes results take time to show up, but feelings do not. In my weight loss journey, I remembered, I could not see any significant changes in the scales, my weight was just a few grams less than what I had before joining. But honestly, I could feel the lightness in my body, I had felt that the inflammation in my body was reduced, and I was feeling much better.

So listen to your body more than you focus on seeing aesthetic changes. Aesthetic change will not be prompt and can sometimes be misleading, but your feelings regarding your body will never mislead you.

Also Read: Perfect Gym Workout Plan for Beginners

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How To Stick To A Gym Workout Plan?

Maintain a realistic goal for your gym routine, mix up different exercises to eliminate boredom, track and reward, and keep your routine consistent. These will help you in sticking to your gym workout plan. 

2. How Can I Stay Motivated To Maintain My Gym Plan?

Make your gym workout session fun by mixing different exercises and activities. Don’t keep the goals unrealistic, just do what you can do regularly, track yourself on your gear or apps, it helps in staying motivated. And if you are still not motivated, just remind yourself why you started in the first place. 

3. Should I Double My Workout After The Day I Missed My Workout?

No, doubling up is not necessary. If you double up, it will take a toll on your body; you will be exhausted and sore, which can affect your consistency. So, rather than get going with your normal routine. 

4. How Can I Stay Consistent If I Have An Unpredictable Day Routine Due To Work?

Make sure you are engaged in a flexible hours gym, so that if you can’t visit in the morning, you can go there in the evening. If you have a busy schedule, shorten the span of your routine, do fewer reps. Now, if you are extremely busy and can’t find the time, just do a few things associated with your routine at your home or office, if possible. 

5. How Long Does It Take To Show Results In The Gym? 

If you are dedicated and have been following your gym plan without any gaps, then you and other people might see a change within 4-6 weeks. But that is not always true for everyone, because genes, body and other factors also determine the result. 

Summing Up

Most of the people who go to the gym drop out because they cannot stick to their gym workout plan. The lack of consistency gets reflected in the result, and that works as a demotivating factor. So if you do not stick to the plan, then you will fall into a loop. So from the very beginning, maintain the plan, follow the tips, which will make your journey easier.