How to stay motivated with your fitness goals in Lockdown 3

Lockdown may have put our holiday plans on hold but that’s no excuse to put fitness on the back burner. What you need is MOTIVATION. So think of SMARTY as your very own Mr. Motivator, as we reveal some top tips to keep you on task.

Joe Wicks (9am Mon, Wed & Fri)

Put Joe in your diary and get your workout done and dusted early. Tune in with thousands of others all over the world. Can’t make it? There also lots of other workouts available on his YouTube channel.

Couch to 5k

We all know you can’t just jump into running a marathon. But with Couch to 5K, you can build up your fitness. And what’s more, when you download the app , you can tell your friends and family who will hold you accountable for reaching your goals.

Zombies! Run

It takes a certain level of motivation to want to go for a run every day. And what better motivation than zombies. Zombies! Run makes exercise fun by turning it into a game. See if you can escape the hordes of zombies, gather supplies and rescue survivors – all as you jog around town.

Turn it into a competition

Got an Apple Watch? Got a friend with an Apple Watch? Share your activity and create a competition of your fitness goals. It’s always more motivational when you want to win. Don’t have an Apple Watch, you can do the same with a FitBit, Garmin or other Smart Watch too.

Become a conqueror

You’re no longer just going for a run, a walk, a ride, or a swim, you’re working towards conquering a mountain, crossing a sea or following a historic trail. The Conqueror’s virtual fitness challenges all culminate in a real-world medal. Pretty cool, huh.

Fit exercise around your day

Don’t want to do 10 squats, 30 sit-ups and 50 step-ups all at once? Then don’t. Start your day with a list of all the exercises you want to do and just pick them off as you go. Why not try slotting in a 10 or 15-minute Body Project HIIT workout when you can to really get your heart pumping.

Start a WhatsApp group

It good to have people you can talk to. To share you worries, struggles and strategies to overcome them. Start a WhatsApp group with friends or family and keep on track with your fitness goals. Working together, whether competitively or not, always helps to move things forward.

One thing at a time

You don’t have to jump into everything at once. Even if you want to, your body needs time to adapt to the changes you’re making. Start a single new regime – a run, a cycle, a swim. Then add to it. By avoiding things getting too overwhelming, you’re more likely to stick at it.

So there we have it. There are loads of resources out there to help you get started with your fitness goals. We hope you’re feeling motivated. Good luck.