Fitness Routine: How To Commit

Everyone wants a fitness routine they can stick with. No matter who you are or what you do, you can create a workout regimen that fits into your lifestyle, your calendar and your budget.

Below you'll find 7 proven ways to create a routine that you can commit to as well as my personal success story. Enjoy!

7 Proven Ways To Commit To A Fitness Routine

That's me on the right. Yes, we are hula hooping! I have never stuck with a workout routine before, and I lost 14 pounds in the first few months of doing this...keep reading to find out how!

1. What form of exercise is for you? It's very important to figure out what kind of exercise you like to do. If you're doing something you enjoy, then you'll be more likely to stick with it. Take this quiz for some extra help on figuring out the best fitness routine for you.

2. Keep it fresh. You don't have to be limited to just 1 form of exercise. If you often get bored with the same old routine, then mix it up. Create a fitness routine that involves different forms of exercise (like different classes at the gym) or a type of exercise that requires learning new elements often (like hula hooping or dancing).

3. Location, location, location. Where you work out is a huge factor in committing to your routine. If your lifestyle does not have room for a gym membership, then don't force it. Rather, create a workout regimen you can comfortably stick to at home. Alternately, if there are too many distractions at home, then invest in a gym membership where the environment is very conducive to exercising.

4. Find the time. Most people let their fitness routine fall through the cracks in the name of not having enough time. You may not have the time to work out for an hour every day, but you have the time to work out. See the difference? Look at your weekly calendar, and choose 3 15-minute blocks of time to exercise. Pencil them in and stick to it.

5. Find the right time. If you're not a morning person, then don't try to wake up extra early to exercise before work. Rather, think about the time of day when you are the most motivated to exercise. For some people it is the morning and working out wakes them up. For me, it's the 30-45 minutes before I shower in the early evening.

6. Forget about the pounds. Losing weight takes time, so don't focus all your energy on how much you weigh. Instead, turn your thoughts to getting lost in your workout routine and enjoying the little break from the world it provides.

7. Measure your success in different ways. The obvious thing is to measure your success by weighing yourself to see how many pounds you've lost. You should do this, but not on a daily basis. It's like the stock market: it goes up and down every day, so check in once a month to make sure you're headed in the right direction.

More importantly, measure your victories by how you feel. Do you have more energy? Are you happier? Do your pants fit a little better? Yes?! Then you've got an overwhelmingly successful fitness routine!

My Personal Routine

Using the 7 points above, I decided to hula hoop for exercise. I can do it at home and am constantly trying to master new tricks. Hence, it's free (other than buying the hoop) and keeps my competitive side thirsty.

I started out doing it 15 minutes a day for 3 days a week right before I shower in the early evening. I ended up loving it so much, that I now do it for 30-45 minutes a day 6-7 days a week. If I go a day without doing it, I feel like I've missed something.

It's been a year, I've lost 14 pounds and I'm still going strong with my hula hooping fitness routine. Want to see some cool hula hoop tricks? Check out my YouTube channel!