Yes, I’m talking fitness today. Why? Because I’m probably doing sets of lunges in between deep cleaning all of my bathrooms today. (We’re on day three of having our house packed out and it’s been a full three days to say the least.)

Now, I’ll be the first to admit sticking to a fitness (workout) plan is HARD. And living overseas the past three years I’ve had to reinvent my approach and attitude in more ways than one. Staying on course with a fitness plan is often challenging due to the continual changes that life brings.

While there aren’t really any easy answers, to the chaos of life, I DO believe there are some universal principles you and I can follow. And it doesn’t really matter where you fall within your fitness level, these are universal ways to fail-proof your fitness plan!

Yes, I just typed, fail-proof. You’re welcome.

Fail-Proof your Fitness Plan

(1) Flexible

Blessed are the flexible. I know, you LOVE your yoga instructor and you’ve gone to her class for years and you can’t imagine another instructor ever replacing her.

Then she leaves and you are left wondering why she broke up with you.

Well…guess what? You can choose to be flexible (get it?!?) and learn to adapt to the new instructor. You always own your own workout and your personal experience. Don’t let rigidity define you, instead work on going with the flow.

(2) Future

Think of how you want to look and feel in ten years. What do you want your body to allow you to do? Keep a future forward focus and work daily with that carrot in front of you! Your steps today will impact your steps tomorrow.

(3) Fit

It is essential to find a form of fitness that “fits” within your lifestyle. Don’t force yourself to do a format of exercise that just doesn’t motivate you. Some seasons spin classes may feel great, other seasons you’ll want something completely different. There isn’t necessarily a perfect “fit” but look for a fit that works for you within your current season.

(4) Friends

A workout buddy and/or friends cheering you on are oh so important. The more accountability you have the better. Call your BFF, your sister or your mom, and ask them to join you or check up on you! When you have someone counting on you, you are more inclined to show up, and usually work harder too.

(5) Fun

This sort of ties into finding the right fit and bringing along your friends. The more you make exercise fun, the more you’ll do it. Add the right format, invite the right support (friends), and most importantly find the fun. The more fun, the more likely you’ll get your workout done!

This picture above is me last fall finishing (barely) a sprint triathlon. I sure don’t look like I’m having fun here. Please keep in mind that I’m wearing the clothes I also swam in the ocean in. Triathlons are not for those looking to look “put together!”

But, I DID hit all five principles by completing in my first triathlon:

Flexible: I was flexible, I tried something new!
Future: This was something I had always wanted to try.
Fit: I had experience and liked all three sports (swimming, biking, running).
Friends: Three ladies joined with me = the support and encouragement I needed!
Fun: It was fun! Hard, but fun. 🙂

Over the past three years I’ve stretched myself to pick up new sports like tennis and the above mentioned triathlon. I also finally ran that marathon (whew) and I’ve also found walking (with my pup) to be one of the best ways to squeeze in not only exercise, but also the ever important self-care.