The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Fitspiration
Lounging on my bed one morning, laptop poised on one knee and a bowl of cereal on the other, I suddenly found myself looking at a six-pack on my computer screen enviously. Like so many other ladies out there, I pondered for a moment about how nice it would be to have such a firm, shapely torso.
But then I snorted in the bowl of cereal, drink my OJ, and told myself that I am too darned lazy to get in shape. What this lazy girl needed was a guide that would light a fire under her bum to getting moving.
The ridiculously real truth about lazy girls
But the difference between lazy girls and the rest of the female population is that we would rather dress in a tee-shirt and sweatpants and watch cat videos all day rather than applying makeup and going out with friends. So when looking gorgeous for others does not matter, aesthetic reasons are moot.
Secondly, lazy girls are not the ones who endeavor to become Olympic athletes. Unless picking up dropped potato chips with our toes counts… I call the five-second rule. Do not judge me.
Plus, the only thing I run to is the bathroom after ignoring the need to go during my favorite television show. I am not about to strap on running shoes at 5 o’clock in the morning and go for miles.
That paints a picture in my mind of burning lungs, legs, and a whole lot of swearing. No, I would not even make it down the road before I said, “Okay, I think that is a good start. Breakfast time.”
Then after stuffing my face, I lay down on the floor for some horizontal running. That means kicking my legs once in awhile in reaction to a funny scene or decent comic strip.
Oh yes, this lazy girl was a total caterpillar – wrapped up in the comforter and nourished solely by candlelight.
Somehow, though, I got motivated. It took a lot of work. More work than this lazy girl would like to admit to; but once I realized how worth it the effort was, staying motivated got easier. I shed the blanket cocooning the flab to become a toned, badass butterfly.
How did I do it? Well, let me first discuss what I did not do, because there are so much wonky pseudoscience and Women’s World false advice out there that can lead you astray. Learn from my mistakes then apply it to your success, okay? Good.
Read also – 6 Apps + 4 Workouts for Gym Haters
How to NOT get motivated
One thing that always makes this lazy girl laugh is the risible advice or statements fitness “professionals” give for motivation.
“Run like some hot actor is watching.”
“A workout is a triumph over laziness.”
“Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe dedicated.”
“Laziness is just an excuse.”
“Suck it up now and you will not have to suck it in later.”
“Skinny girls look good in clothes. Fit girls look good naked.”
Puh-lease. Pinning all these to motivation is asking for failure, because you get too focused on not being lazy and trying to change something that is not solely contingent on getting fit. There are other habits to break aside from laziness. Like reaching for donuts instead of an apple, when they are both equidistant from your grasp.
That is not laziness. That is an unhealthy decision that you made unfalteringly. Laziness is not necessarily a bad thing. Laziness can be a result of creativity since it allows you to do things with less effort. So stop thinking of lazy as a synonym for “sedentary,” “lethargy,” and “apathy.”
Moreover, lazy girls are not uneducated girls. In the health and fitness world, there are so many factors that separate a girl who is unambitious from those who have no idea what they are doing.
So, in short, if you want to stymie your motivation before you ever harness it, then stop keeping using lazy as an excuse. Keep aiming for a negative goal, like the image of a body that is nothing like yours. Because that is setting you up to go nowhere.
The Powerful fitspiration for the lazy lady
Now that the ugly bubble of the fitness world is busted, let me get down to business. You want to get fit, but you also do not want to put down the latest book or stop binge watching Netflix. Whatever will you do? The following steps are the ones I took to free myself from laziness and motivate myself to exercise:
1 Find a realistic goal
So many ladies pin up pictures of figures that are not legitimate. Those models whose bodies society has deemed perfect actually look nothing like they do in the magazine, so stop idolizing them. Instead, make a goal that is real, like building up enough endurance to run a charity 5K. Reducing your risk of diabetes. Recovering from an injury. Or, tackling depression.
2 Build yourself up
It is not an “all or nothing” thing. Nor is it “go hard or go home.” Even one push-up counts. 10 squats every hour counts. Start small, and build yourself up.
3 Call it another way
Do not call it a workout. Call it what it really is for you: “life-saving exercise,” “therapy,” “an antidepressant,” or “fun.”
4 Focus on the effort
Stop focusing on the amount of time you put in, but the effort. Minimal effort over a span of 2 hours does less than working to the max for 20 minutes.
5 Exercise without exercise
Do short bursts of exercise during commercials. Simply put, if you do not want to leave the couch, you do not really have to.
6 Multitask
Similarly to numero dos, go on a walk during phone conversations, especially the long ones. Get fit and burn off frustration while talking to the relatives.
7 Create your favorite playlist
Create music playlists that you know will make you move. Music is a huge motivator. Choose whatever gets you grooving.
8 Do what you like
Do not invest your time in something you hate. Remember how I said I hate running? When I tried training for a marathon, I fell off the wagon hard. But I love kickboxing. So I joined group martial arts classes and invested in kickboxing workout DVDs. Find what works for you, then do it. Often.
9 Stick to the 80-20 rule
Healthy decisions, not restrictions. A lot of bodybuilders and athletes swear by this thing called the 80-20 rule. Eat healthy 80% of the time, loading yourself up with fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. 20% of the time, you are free to indulge in whatever you want.
10 Dress comfortably
Not going to lie, but I loathe workout clothing. It feels too restrictive and clings to what does not need attention. I like sweatpants and baggy t-shirts. It may not look amazing, but it lets me do what I want comfortably. So dress in a way that makes you confident without hindering your ability to move freely.
Read also – 10 Exercises You Can Do Almost Anywhere
Now, this advice may not work for you 100%, and that is okay. The biggest hurdle to get over is realizing that everyone and their body is unique. What helps me might need some tweaking before you can utilize it.
Getting fit and living your best life is just one part of the story. One chapter to delivering your ultimate tale. Make every session an adventure. Learn something new about yourself.
Just because you are lazy, you do not have to live tediously or vicariously from the couch. Add a little bit of movement to the daily routine, and the motivation will come naturally.
