goal setting inspiration minimal equipment motivation

When The Going Gets Tough: 4 Tips For Staying Resilient On Your Fitness Journey

Sep 01, 2021by Vikki Schembri

When “normal” becomes a thing of the past, the best thing we can do for ourselves is to make space for the things that keep us healthy and happy.

At this time, especially, that calls for some level of adaptation and resiliency.

That’s what being an athlete is all about – being able to surmount whatever obstacle comes your way and come out on the other side stronger than before. Whether it involves running towards it, lifting it over your head, jumping over it; our training prepares us to overcome barriers.

As the old adage goes, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. When things get tough, we work harder and come out stronger.

Currently, as we keep our friends, family, and neighbours safe in the time of a pandemic by maintaining our social distance, this presents us Athletes with more obstacles that every before.

Many of us have been struggling to workout as we normally would. In the past year, our lives have been altered dramatically by the pandemic, whether you were in a hot spot or not. Maintaining physical and mental well-being has been challenged in so many different ways.

But despite so much of our Normal being thrown into disarray, there are so many ways we can continue to develop our mental and physical fortitude. Loss of gains is not inevitable. And the Synergee Team is here to help you through!

Here are 4 tips for staying fit, building resilience, and maintaining a fitness routine. 4 tips for you - one tough cookie - to get going when the time gets tough:

#1: FIND A WORKOUT BUDDY

A workout buddy can help you stay motivated; and more importantly, they can make you feel less alone during the tough days.

I also find that, one days I don't want to workout, convincing myself I'm going to go hang out with my friend and that's worth putting on my workout pants for can get me out the door. And on days I DO want to workout, I have one of my biggest cheerleaders by my side to congratulate me on my gains!

It's a win-win!

A workout buddy can be someone you can actually workout; it can be a friend you text weekly/daily to keep you accountable; or there are numerous online training communities (ex. Street Parking) where you can post on forums, log process, and find inspiration for workouts.

On our own Synergee Instagram page, we post workouts weekly and share the successes of our #SynergeeAthletes!

If you’re a little too shy to reach out to someone directly or start with an online training program, looking through our Instagram for our daily workouts and seeing what other Synergee Atheltes are achieving can be a great boost! You’re part of this team, too!

#2: WHEN IN DOUBT, BODYWEIGHT IT OUT!

When time is tight and equipment is out of reach, it's the perfect opportunity to become closely acquainted with push ups, squats, lunges, and more. Once you delve into the world of body weight exercises, you’ll realize there is a lot to keep you entertained!

Plus, body weight workouts are a great way to achieve a great strength-to-mass ratio!

Strength to mass ratio is a measure associated with functionality; it is the force that someone can exert divided by their mass.

Developing your S-M R is associated with increased health and longevity, and can help people stave off morbidity and sickness in your later years! Bodyweight workouts can be done anywhere, anytime; and they are totally worth the work you put into doing them!

#3: MAKE DO & GET CREATIVE

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: there are NO RULES when it comes to working out. There is no "right" way to do it. The most unconventional of workouts and equipment can help you live a stronger & happier life.

For example, although it is a heck-of-a-lot more convenient to use the proper equipment, some stuff you can find around the house that can help you lift more weight, lift more often, and/or diversify your workouts to hit more muscle groups include:

Plastic Milk Jugs filled with gravel/sand can make for great free weights (just be sure to screw that cap on tightly!)
To perform Ring Rows find a low tree branch that you can throw a towel/sheet over. Center the towel so it is laying length-wise over the branch, draped over it evenly. Grasp a side of the towel/sheet in each hand, get into Ring Row position, and perform some reps! Hold on tight, and maybe don’t use the fancy towels/sheets for this workout!
Want to perform Dips? Place a kitchen chair on either side of your body, place your hands on the seat, and tuck your knees (or get really good at L Sit Dips!) to crank out some reps! Just make sure the chairs are secure; it's best to do this on carpet versus a slippery hardwood floor!
No skipping rope? No space to skip? Find an object to place on the floor and perform toe taps with: a Kleenex Box, a Tupperware container, what have you! It can be small. It just provides you with a target off the ground. OR, you can perform lateral hops over this object
My personal favorite is subbing Box Jumps with Laundry Basket Hop Overs. While I definitely don’t trust to my laundry basket to hold me if I jump on it, I get the same cardio burn by jumping clear over it! Oh, it gets the heart racing, for SURE!

The possibilities are endless for makeshift workout equipment you already have in your home. Lift something. Move with it. Repeat.

#4: SLEEP!!

It's funny that our fitness goals and progress can keep us up at night... but sleep is SO essential to our success in that very area of life!!

Rest and activity go hand in hand. Listening to your body for when it needs rest and catching the Z’s can help better your mood; help you deal with the stress of life, work, and the rest of everything going on in the world; and give you more energy to give it your all and find motivation for your workouts.

Sleep well so you can face each day with a fresh outlook.