How to Encourage Others to Get Fit
By Genevieve Cunningham
The fitness journey is a lifelong one. It’s not something that you jump on randomly and jump off at the next stop. Once you commit to be fit, you have to work at it every single day. But this can be really hard, especially if you’re doing it alone. Want to make it easier? Get some fitness friends. But how? One approach is to turn your current friends into fitness lovers. While difficult, this might be the best and most rewarding approach. If you want to encourage others to get fit and go on the journey with you, take a look at these tips.
Make It Look Fun
The more fun that you make working out and eating healthy look, the more likely they are to join in on the fun. Don’t complain all the time about waking up early or skipping dessert or sticking with a workout plan. This will only turn your friends off. Instead, talk about how good it makes you feel and the amazing benefits that fitness brings into your life, and your friends are much more likely to jump in.
Make It a Game or Challenge
If you want others to join in on your fitness quest, try engaging them in a game or challenge. Play Biggest Loser at work. Challenge your siblings to a weight loss race. Make new challenges every week or month, and then make bets on who will crush it. Keeping it light and fun is a great way to keep newbies coming out until the fitness bug grabs ahold of them for good.
Invite Them Along
Everyone likes to be included. If you want someone to go with you, ask them. They might say no, and that’s OK, but that shouldn’t keep you from asking. One time, you might be surprised to find them agree to your invitation. Invite them to yoga. Invite them to run. Invite them to aerobics. Just ask them to join you whenever the moment arises, and let their own wants and needs do the work from there.
Encouraging others to work out might be the hardest task of all! After all, no one can force another person to get fit. But with these tips, you may be able to talk a friend or family member into joining you in the fun. Just be patient, consistent, and positive, and you may influence a whole new group of people to get healthier than ever before.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Wheaton, Ill.