Here we are again: the new rugby season is at the door and I must admit that during the summer I stopped with sport giving me some food and alcohol concessions. Ok not too bad: the situation it’s not unrecoverable, but “as the road to hell is paved with good intentions” (quoting my grandfahter), it’s time to start rolling up the sleeves and doing something: get back into shape.

It’s not so easy to start again after this quiet period, so I need some help. I wrote here a lists of tips and good habits to find the correct mental mood to restart.

TIPS & GOOD HABITS

START SMALL

You should mainly start with small tasks. Instead of running 1 hour every day, start running 15/30 minutess a day. It will lead to less risks in not meeting your goal. Start small and then increase and repeat.

DO IT

The road to hell is paved with good intentions so, don’t think too much because there is no way around it: You just have to do it. Stop thinking and start doing it.Start today…the time will pass anyway.

GET AN EXERCISE BUDDY

Find a friend, work colleague or pet to workout with is a great way to boost motivation.
It will add a little bit of fun into the workout and will help you to stick to your workout routine.

REMEMBER HOW GOOD IT MAKES YOU FEEL

If you need something to motivate you, just remember the post-workout. Apart from some aching muscles, you will never regret a workout.

ONE MONTH CHALLENGE

Try taking on a one-month challenge to kick-start your routine, it won’t feel so overwhelming. When the challenge is over, you will feel great and be back into good exercise habits.

START YOUR DAY WITH A WIN

The morning is the perfect time for a fresh start and what is the better way to start it like a winner? Waking up on the right side of the bed and… make your bed!

SET A SCHEDULE AND STICK TO IT

Unless it’s written down it isn’t real! Schedule your workouts, write it down, pick a time, and don’t delete on yourself. It’s easy to talk yourself out of something you just thought of doing, but it’s not so easy if it’s written down.

CHART YOUR PROGRESS

It will take some time before you see the results. Don’t feel discouraged in case your abs didn’t show the next two days but start to keep track of your weight, size, muscle mass, and even the number of reps you had for a certain routines. Slowly, you will see differences in the numbers and you can use them as motivation to keep building the right habit.

PREPARE YOUR GYM BAG

Prepare your gym bag the night before and lay it next to your door. Once you are out of bed and your gym bag is already packed, you may go. If you go to the gym after work, place your gym bag next to your desk or in your car. This will act as a good reminder of what you have committed to do.

Last but not least: Stay away from the couch, it has a huge gravitational attraction !!!