How to Motivate Yourself to Work Out

One of my Sunday prayers is good health for me and my loved ones. For the past few years I've experienced both sickness that lasted for more than a week, and worrying for an ill friend who needed to bed-rest for more than a month!

Those down moments made me more aware that above wealth and material things, above all the exciting travels and other life achievements, HEALTH is the best gift to enjoy all these.

Good thing I am a cardio addict, but I needed more motivation to get up and go to the gym:

Where to get the motivation to get off your bed and do extra fitness activities at least 3x a week?

1) Try Something New

Yesterday, I was able to experience Cyclehouse MNL in Padilla Building, Ortigas. They offer fun, indoor cycling classes--something I've always been curious about ever since!

I love cardio activities, and usually occupy our gym's cross-trainer for 30 minutes. But sometimes doing things repeatedly gets boring. I also used go to hot yoga classes, but there will come a time when it gets monotonous, so I just move on to another activity.

My Cyclehouse MNL experience was super fun and addicting! They played upbeat music, while our instructor levels up the intensity of our movements. I LOVE IT! Less than 10 minutes and I already felt sore, with my poor lungs worked out to the max. Haha! And I will fearlessly say: Everyone can do it! As our instructor told us at the beginning of the class, respect your body, so if you think you can't do one of the movements, it's definitely okay to slow down your pace or rest.



That post-workout glow:



2) Make a Playlist

Think of all the songs that made you dance randomly, even in public! Save them all as your gym playlist, and work that treadmill as if no one's watching!

3) Find a support group

I enjoyed my first cycling class because I was with my blog friends Pax, Ruth, and Kelly. I can do things on my own, but having people that I can talk to about my experience or ask for tips on health and nutrition (hi Kelly!) is really more encouraging than keeping everything to myself!

Conquered the wheels with my girl friend Pax! Woot!

4) Buy cute new workout clothes!

This will sound superficial, but it works for me! Owning a cute, new (and expensive, lol) pair of tights from Adidas, or lightweight running shoes really encourage me to "road test" them in the gym.

5) Try an app that offers rewards when you get active!

The Philam Vitality Program seeks to help its customers make better decisions for their overall health and wellness, and REWARDING them along the way. A simplified version of this program is through the Philam Vitality Active App. 

I recently downloaded the app for free via Apple Store (also available for android users on Google Play).

Opening the app for the first time, I needed to complete some basic questions that calculated my Philam Vitality Age. Not proud to say that they calculated mine as 38*, when I am just 31! Huhuhu. 

*Philam Vitality Age is based on the user's fitness and lifestyle choices

 The app will give me weekly challenges, such as accomplishing a certain number of steps measured by a fitness device or free fitness apps. For every challenge completed for two consecutive weeks, I will receive exciting rewards!

Some of these prizes include free passes to SM Cinema, SM Ice Skating, SM Bowling, Blink, and Exploreum. I definitely want the movie tickets! Haha!

Through the Philam Vitality App, Philam Life achieves their mission to change public perception towards life insurance policies.

"Realizing how important good health is and how it is central to human happiness and economic progress, the Philam Group, together with our parent company AIA, will reinvent life insurance by changing our (and our customer's) attitude towards health," said Philam Life CEO Aibee Cantos.

When you sign up, you can use the promo code ACTIVEALYSSA or ACTIVEMIKA.

These promo codes stand for Philam Vitality Active's very fitting ambassadors, volleyball players Alyssa Valdez and Mika Reyes. Take your fitness to the test and join the Live Active Challenge by choosing your team! 

Lastly, download the Philam Vitality Active app for a chance to win one of eight Garmin Vivofit 3 watches. Imagine getting rewarded for choosing a healthy lifestyle! Promo period is till April 30, 2017 only, so better to sign up right away.

For more information, like Philam Life on Facebook or visit philamlife.com/vitalityactive.
Special thanks to CycleHouse MNL and Stacy and Danah of Plump.PH for having me!