5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Skip Your Workout
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Staying committed to a regular workout routine can be challenging at times, especially when life is busy and it becomes tempting to just skip!
But before you succumbed to the temptations of skipping a workout, it is important to consider if it is the right choice to make. In this episode of Embrace Your Real podcast, we will explore five important questions to ask yourself before you skip your workout. Ask this to honestly assess your reasons and motivations, that way you can make an informed decision that aligns with your fitness goals. Maybe you should skip your work and maybe you shouldn’t. We’re about to find out!
What I discuss:
How consistent have you been?
Will you feel better if you skip your workout?
If you don't work out today, when would you work out instead?
Instead of skipping your workout, can you squeeze in a quick 20-30 minute workout at home instead?
Does the decision to skip your workout align with your goals?
If you loved this episode, you will also love this…
Episode 331 - 5 Reasons Why “More” Isn’t Better
If you want more from me, be sure to check out...
Instagram: @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie
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Macro Counting Made Simple: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/
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Transcript:
[00:00:00] Hey there, beautiful human. You're listening to Embrace Your Real with me, Julie Ledbetter. A podcast where I empower you to just be you. With each episode, I issue a dose of real talk and actionable advice for building your confidence, honoring your body, and unconditionally loving your authentic self. Stay tuned if you're ready to embrace your real. Let's get it, let's go. [00:00:21][21.1]
[00:00:26] Hello and welcome back to another episode. I am really excited about today's episode. Five Questions to Ask Yourself before you skip your workout. I get it. Staying committed to a regular workout routine can be challenging at times. Like, to be honest, this is an understatement. I get it. I've been there. Life is busy. You get worn out, you get stretched thin in ten different directions. And it's really tempting to skip that workout here and there. However, before you decide to forgo honoring your body with movement, I think that it's crucial to decide and consider whether or not this is the decision that you really want to make. And that's why in today's episode, I want to kind of explore five important questions to ask yourself before you skip your workout by really, honestly assessing your reasons and your motivations. And this can help to make you an informed decision that aligns with not only your goals, but your mental goals and all of the other things that you have going in your life. [00:01:22][55.7]
[00:01:22] Maybe you should skip your workout. Maybe you shouldn't. We're about to find out in today's episode, but before we do, I wanted to share this review. It comes from Hubert Christine. She gave a five star review and said the first and only podcast. Julie, I have never been the girl that could listen to a podcast because I prefer music over hearing someone talk, but I cannot get enough of this podcast. I can't wait for every Monday and Thursday. My heart and my mind needed this so much, and I share it with every single woman, women that I know because every single woman needs this. You are so down to earth and real, giving all shapes and sizes of women. Great advice for truly loving themselves. I find myself giving the same advice and using your words to encourage and lift up my girlfriends. Thank you so much for sharing the absolute best and the most imperfect parts of yourselves with so many. I love you and all you're setting out to do. [00:02:12][49.8]
[00:02:13] This just gave me all the feelings. Oh my gosh. I love you guys so much. Thank you. First of all, the fact that you're not a podcast listener, but you choose to tune in to my podcast every Monday and Thursday, that is an honor. The fact that you guys take, you know, ten, 20, 30 minutes out of your day to tune in to this podcast, I don't ever take that for granted, and I am so incredibly grateful for every single one of you guys who do. So Thank you for tuning in. And then secondly, to be able to share that with your friends. That is just, man, that is my heart is bursting because I'm so grateful for you. [00:02:45][31.8]
[00:02:45] So thank you so much, Christine, for this review. Also, thank you for sharing it with your girlfriends. If you guys could scooch over to Apple Podcasts, if this podcast in general has helped you in any way, shape or form, I would love to hear it. Our team would love to hear what episodes are speaking to you, how this podcast has helped you in general. So if you could go over there first, make sure to subscribe so that you never miss an episode on Monday and Thursday when they release and then also leave that reading interview. It genuinely helps us so much. [00:03:12][27.2]
[00:03:13] Okay, so let's dive into the five questions to ask yourself before you skip your workout. I need you get a pen and paper to write these down or create a note on your phone just that way. It's really easy for you to refer back to these five questions next time you thinking about skipping that workout. Okay, It's going to give you a couple of minutes or I'm going to give you a couple seconds so that you can get that pen and paper out and make sure you have your phone readily available. Because I'm genuinely serious when I say that these questions will help you like it. And sometimes the answer will be, okay, yes, I can skip this workout. I'm good. I've got a plan and other times it's going to be the accountability that you need. [00:03:50][36.9]
[00:03:50] So number one, ask yourself, how consistent have you been? So one of the first questions that I want you to ask yourself is genuinely being 100% real, how consistent you've been with your workouts. We all know that consistency is key when it comes to seeing results of maintaining progress. So if you have been consistent with your exercise routine, skipping a workout every once in a while, that might not have a significant impact. [00:04:12][22.2]
[00:04:13] In fact, skipping a workout might be what your body needs because maybe you've been too consistent. Maybe your body really does not need to work out or doesn't want to work out because it really desperately needs rest. In this case, go skip that workout, do something with your friends, chill on the couch, whatever it is that you are going to do instead of your workout and enjoy it. On the other hand, if you have struggled with consistency recently, you've been honest with yourself and you're like, Yeah, man, I have not been consistent. It is important to evaluate whether skipping your workout will derail you and your progress and motivation even more, right? [00:04:47][33.8]
[00:04:47] If in the past few weeks you've only gotten one workout in a week when your goal was maybe four, maybe instead of skipping your workout, you need to dig deep for that grit and get yourself to push through that lack of motivation to really allow yourself to get to that point of relying on discipline. If you're honest with yourself about consistency and you just haven't been showing up for yourself in your workouts recently, then I want to encourage you to show up for yourself today, show up for your workout no matter how you are feeling, because at the end of the day, in this scenario, any workout will be better than no workout at all. [00:05:19][32.2]
[00:05:20] Number two, will you feel better if you skip your workout? While there might be days where you. Genuinely need that rest in recovery. It's worth considering whether skipping your workout will truly make you feel better. You have to remember that exercise movement releases endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. So many people find that after a workout they feel energized, they feel refreshed, they feel mentally clear. They're sleeping better. All of these things throughout the day. So if you're feeling tired or maybe in your you're in a bad mood or working out is genuinely the last thing that you want to do. Working out might actually be the one thing that you need in order to boost those things. Plus, many times we don't feel like working out, but once we force ourselves to do it, we feel so much better. The struggle through the workout was worth the feeling of what we experienced afterwards. [00:06:07][46.7]
[00:06:08] Plus, when we skip a workout and we go, you know, go home, lie on the couch, we end up feeling guilty for our decision. We end up not actually enjoying our downtime if we're just going, you know, going to go home and feel guilty for our decision to not actually enjoy our rest, then we might as well struggle through some sort of movement. So I need you to take a moment, reflect on how you might feel after missing that workout. Will it truly bring you a sense of relief or lead to feelings of guilt and regret? Weigh the potential emotional and mental benefits before you immediately go to the temporary inconvenience of working out. [00:06:44][36.3]
[00:06:44] So ask yourself how you feel if you go work out, how you feel if you don't work out, and then kind of compare those two feelings before making a final decision. [00:06:52][7.2]
[00:06:52] Number three, if you don't work out today, when will you work out instead? So when you consider skipping your workout, it's essential to have a plan in place for when you'll make up for it. Sometimes when we stop and think about when we would be able to squeeze in our next workout, we realize that now is actually the best time to do it, no matter how we're feeling. So if you don't work out today, then you might, you know, squeeze in a workout at 5 a.m. a right before dinner with friends. Both of those scenarios may sound worse than just going to work out now, and that might be the very motivation that you need to go on in your body with some movement today. [00:07:24][31.2]
[00:07:24] So oftentimes skipping one workout can quickly turn into skipping several. So creating that habit of inconsistency. Right. And this is why we need to ensure that if we skip a workout, we have a plan in place to make it up later in the week or a different time of day. Maybe this is a better time for you to work out. Maybe it isn't. So really reflecting on what you can realistically reschedule if you miss a workout. And this is why I like framing my workouts as an appointment. [00:07:50][26.4]
[00:07:51] I talk about this all the time. I schedule my workouts in like I do a dentist or doctor's appointment. If you miss your dentist or a doctor's appointment, what are you going to do? You're going to reschedule it, right? Same thing with your workout. So really allowing yourself to look at it seriously like that and choosing an alternative time or making adjustments to your schedule. That's totally okay. Adaptability is great. In fact, I think it's important on this journey of sustainable lifestyle changes. But I also need you to be honest with yourself and ask yourself, Is this something that I'm genuinely going to be able to follow through on if I reschedule it? [00:08:25][34.4]
[00:08:26] Number four, instead of skipping your workout, seeing if you can just squeeze in a quick, you know, 20 to 25 minute workout. If you initially maybe had a 40 to 60 minute workout planned, I don't know about you, but for a long time I used to think like a 20 minute workout. Oh, my gosh, that's nothing. But I'm telling you, if you have not followed my movement with your app, you likely are might be in that same boat where you're like 20 to 30 minutes is not even worth it. I'm telling you, when it is programed, effectively, you can absolutely do so much work in in 20 to 25 minutes and you can absolutely get the best workout in in that short amount of time. And it can be very effective to help you stay on track. [00:09:07][41.5]
[00:09:07] I don't know about you, but there seasons of my life especially, I've talked about this on previous episodes, but in the summertime I tend to just stick with the 30 minute workouts just because I find that they're less daunting in terms of me scheduling things in just with, you know, being gone, seeing friends, doing things out of the house a lot. And so it's really beneficial for me to have that 30 minute option because if I were to look at my schedule and then look at, oh my gosh, of a 40 to 60 minute workout 4 to 5 times a week, I just can't get that done. [00:09:39][31.3]
[00:09:39] But for me, I'm like, oh, 20 to 30 minute workout, 4 to 5 times a week. Yeah, I can totally do that. It's just a lot less daunting. And so for every single workout inside would really help. That is why I have a 60 and a 30 minute variation, because I know that you're busy. I know that you don't have a lot of time, but I know that you also want to get an efficient workout in. And so that's why these workouts are effective. They're time efficient, and it can ensure that you are hitting all the proper muscle groups. And this is also why I love the 30 minute version, because inside my program, the 30 minute version is a big giant circuit. [00:10:12][32.4]
[00:10:12] So let's say, for example, we're doing upper body. So upper body days, we tend to hit back, we hit triceps, we hit biceps and we hit chest. So if you're doing a giant circuit, you're likely going to have, you know, 5 to 7 exercise. Rises back to back in a giant circuit. You're doing one round of each exercise back to back, and then you're resting for 2 minutes and then you're repeating that for another 2 to 3 times for a total of, you know, three rounds. But the reason why I love the giant circuit is because you are able to if you only genuinely have, you know, 15, 20 minutes, you can get 1 to 2 rounds in of that giant circuit. And by the boom, by the bam, I mean, you've already, you know, you hit your chest, you hit your biceps, you hit your back, you hit your triceps. So you can rest assured that you got a workout that was programed effectively to ensure that you are not neglecting certain muscle groups. [00:11:02][49.5]
[00:11:02] So if you are not already a part of the movement with Julie app, I will link it in the show notes or you can go to S-A-L-E dot movement with Julie dot com and you can get instant access now. But even if you don't do my app, I mean I would just want to encourage you to not put so much emphasis on, oh, the workout has to be 40 to 60 minutes in order for it to be a good workout. If you have a 10-15 minute pocket, try to get the most effective workout in that you can in that short amount of time versus just skipping it altogether. [00:11:30][28.3]
[00:11:31] And lastly, number five, asking yourself, does the decision to skip your workout align with your goals? So when you decide to skip your workout, consider whether or not it aligns with your long term fitness goals. We love to choose short term pleasure over long term happiness, and this is why it's important to really reflect on the reasons that you started your exercise routine in the first place. Right? Will your future self Thank you for that decision one year from now? Will this decision get you to where you want to be one year from now? What if one year from now you aren't where you want to be? How will you feel? Can you imagine being stuck where you are one year from now? Right. [00:12:06][34.9]
[00:12:06] Again, maybe rest is what you actually need and maybe it is the best decision for your results because you're overtraining. But whatever your goal is, whether that is to lose body fat, build muscle, get more toned, whatever it is, improve your overall well-being, evaluate the impact of skipping the workout on your progress towards those goals can provide the necessary motivation to keep going. Sometimes taking a moment to realign with your why can really make a big difference in terms of giving up or staying committed. [00:12:34][27.3]
[00:12:34] So asking yourself like how and where do you want to be one year from now? What decision would your future self make today for tomorrow? Right, For one year from now, Make that decision today. [00:12:46][11.7]
[00:12:47] So let me quickly recap why it's important to have these questions on hand the next time that you want to skip your workout. Yes, Skipping a workout occasionally might be necessary for rest and recovery, but it's crucial to approach this decision with consideration before going home and watching Netflix on the couch instead, right? [00:13:03][16.5]
[00:13:04] By asking yourself these five questions, it will allow you to make an informed choice that takes into account your consistency, your emotional well-being, scheduling, flexibility, alternate options, and really alignment with your long term fitness goals. Remember, while it's essential, yes to listen to your body and prioritize rest when needed, having this mindful approach to skipping workouts will help you to maintain momentum and also allow you to achieve the results that you desire. [00:13:31][26.3]
[00:13:31] So let me quickly recap those five questions that you need to ask yourself. Number one, be honest with yourself. How consistent have you been? Number two, will you feel better if you skip your workout? Number three, if you don't work out today, when will you workout instead? Number four, instead of skipping your workout, can you squeeze in a quick 15, 20, 30 minute workout, you know, at home or wherever you are instead? And lastly, number five, does the decision to skip your workout align with your goals? [00:13:59][27.6]
[00:13:59] If you love this episode, I know you'll also love episode 331 5 Reasons Why More Isn't Better. So definitely check out that episode, I will link it in the show notes below. Also, be sure to go check out Movement with Julie. If you have been struggling with motivation, I genuinely believe that this app will help you because it makes it extremely simple for you to show up and build consistency with your workouts. That is the number one result that I hear from women on a daily basis is how consistent they've been, simply because it is so easy to pull up the app. You have a small space, you have a few pair of dumbbells, and that's genuinely all you need for this app. [00:14:38][38.6]
[00:14:38] So if you want to check out this programing, it has helped thousands of women on a weekly basis. We have women from all over the world and it is so cool because these weekly workouts change from week to week. The schedule in terms of the workout split stays the same and same foundational movements are programed from week to week so that you can still implement that progressive overload. But it's not the same exact workout that I don't know. I don't know about you, but for me I just get bored when it's the same workout over and over and over again. I'm like, It's boring. But when you keep it fun, when you keep it fresh, it allows you to stay consistent. [00:15:09][30.8]
[00:15:10] And the coolest part about it is that even though these workouts change week to week, I know that there are thousands of women, there's over 11,000 women that do it on a weekly basis. And I know that they're all doing these workouts alongside of me, and that just gives me so much motivation. I don't know about you, but like, when I know that, you know, when I'm dragging, I'm like, I don't want to do it. I pop into the Facebook group. I just see what some of these women, you know, I see their post-workout selfies. I see them showing up for themselves when they don't want to show up on themselves. And and it just gives me that motivation and that drive. So again, if you want to check it out, your first month as a new subscriber is 50% off. You can go to sale. That's s a l e dot movement with Julie dot com and I would love and be honored to train alongside of you inside that app. [00:15:55][44.8]
[00:15:55] All right. That is all that I have for today's episode. I hope that that was helpful. The five Questions to Ask Yourself before you skip your workout. If you have a friend or coworker or someone in your life that you feel like would really benefit from this episode or this podcast in general, I ask you share it out with them. You can copy the link, send it to them in a text message. You can also screenshot this posted up on your story. I love connect with you guys. I love hearing your aha moments but I will talk to you in the next one. Love you so much. [00:16:19][23.8]
[00:16:25] All right, sister. That's all I got for you today. But I have two things that I need you to do. First thing, if you are not already following me on the gram, be sure to do so. Julie. A Ledbetter. Yes. It's with an A in the middle for that daily post-workout real talk, healthy tips and tricks, and honest accountability to keep your mind and heart in check. The second thing be sure to subscribe to Apple Podcasts to never miss an episode. Thank you so much for joining me. It means the absolute world. And I'm going to leave you with one last thought. The most beautiful women that I have met in my life are the ones who are completely confident and secure in being authentically themselves. Remember that beauty goes so much deeper than the surface. So go out there and embrace your real because you're worth it. [00:16:25][0.0]
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