4 reasons you’re not sticking with your workouts (and what to do about it)
Sabotaging your own workouts? We’ve ALL been there! Between the kids, home, work, and partners and all the things – everything else seems to take priority on our to-do lists that by the time we start thinking about doing something for ourselves – we’re too tired. Or worse, we don’t even get to it.
In partnership with H&M, we asked Turia Pitt to share her top reasons why we just can’t seem to stick to our plans – and how to overcome them!
It’s happened again. You planned to go for an early run, but hit snooze seven times when the alarm went off. An hour later, groggy but decidedly awake, you wonder why you can’t just get it together and GET UP ON TIME.
So, you plan to go for a run this afternoon instead, but by the time 5:30 rolls around, you’re hungry (ravenous actually), the kids are legitimately screaming at each other and the only thing you’re running towards is a glass of red with dinner.
And later, you wonder again, why is it so hard for you to stick to a workout plan? I’ve helped hundreds of women (mostly Mums!) learn to run inside my running program RUN with Turia.
And I’ve found that most women self-sabotage because of one (or more!) of the following reasons. Let me run you through them…
1. You’re overcomplicating it
You’ve decided you’re gonna get fit, and you are ALL IN BABY. Fuelled by the dizzying high of a “last meal” sugar-laden dessert and glass of wine (because after tonight, it is nothing but green juice and fermented baby carrot kimchi), you map out a meticulous plan to get fit.
It involves a cardio class at 5 am. It’s midnight now, but you’ll get up in time. It also involves a 30 min walk with the kids and the dog at 5 pm (the perfect end to the day!) and a Pilates power session before bed. Dinner of poached chicken, rocket pesto and gluten-free pasta, no coffee all day, just herbal tea and 3 litres of water.
Oh! And your warm lemon water and manuka honey to start the day of course!
Look, that sounds great! In theory… But tell me you’re not face down on the couch by 4 pm Thursday. You’ve gotta take it slow, my friend. Baby steps! Focus on just making one small change at a time.
If you want to get into running, try doing a 10-minute run. That’s it! Just ten minutes, shuffling slowly, three times a week. If you want to overhaul your whole diet and quit caffeine and all the rest, great!
But, again, baby steps! Start by just drinking an extra few glasses of water a day. Once you’ve got one habit down, you can add in another. But always just one at a time. Take it easy, drop the big routine, and just focus on one step at a time.
Get tailored content based on your week of pregnancy
By signing up, you agree to receiving our Newsletters. Cancel anytime.
2. You’ve got the wrong goal
If your goal doesn’t make you a little uncomfortable and nervous, it might not be a goal worthy of you. So, if your goal is to run 5kms, ask yourself:
- Is this something I actually want to do?
- Does it scare me a little?
- Am I excited about this goal?
- Will it stretch me out of my comfort zone?
- Will I be really proud of myself once I’ve achieved it?
- Will I be able to look back in five years’ time and say with a smile on my face, ‘I DID THAT!’?
And remember, it’s all relative, right? If you haven’t run for two decades, and you want to sign up for a 5-kilometre run, that sounds like a fantastic goal! But if you pound the pavement four times a week, then a 5k run probably won’t satisfy the criteria above.
Sure, it might still be enjoyable and a bit of a social event, but it probably won’t compel you to keep going.
3. You’re waiting for motivation
The reality is: that you’re not gonna feel motivated all the time! If you’re waiting to wake up, full of energy at 5 am, ponytail swinging, LEAPING to get out of bed and go for a run, well… you might be waiting a long time. Forget motivation, and focus on consistency.
4. You view one bad day as a failure…
Here’s the truth: not every training session is going to feel great. Some will. A lot won’t!
But one bad session or a few bad sessions doesn’t mean you’re failing. Improvement is not linear! I like to think about my training as part of a ratio. The Golden Ratio.
It basically means that not all of your training sessions will be great or feel good. Some will. A lot will be average/”nothing to report” type runs, and some will be downright crap.
Those are the ones you don’t finish, or have to take breaks from, or where you just generally feel tired and heavy, and it’s hard. But that’s OK! The point is – if you show up for your sessions and are generally consistent, you WILL get better over time.
The golden ratio doesn’t require every session to be awesome, it just requires that you keep showing up.
So, what do you think?
Do any of these points ring true to you? I hope these tips have helped!
Remember, take the pressure off yourself, allow yourself to be a beginner, don’t overcomplicate it and be kind to yourself!
You’ve got this, my friend! And if you want help sticking to a running goal, whether you’re a total running newbie, or have a few finish lines under your belt, think about joining me inside run with Turia!
It’s a ten-week online running program (designed specifically for Mums!) that will help you learn to run for the first time, or get back into running with a new goal.
This is a paid partnership between Kiindred x H&M.
Related Articles
How to stop self-sabotaging your workouts…
How to stay motivated – and actually get out the door!
A morning in the life of a running mum…
Related Articles
Turia Pitt Follow +
Turia is a mindset coach, author, athlete, and mother of two. Who is dedicated to creating content that makes people happier.
