You’ve got this! Stay on track with your (and your pet’s) health goals with Sam’s top advice.
When you’re embarking on a healthy new routine, there’s nothing quite like having your furry best friend by your side. When you’re starting out, it’s likely that your motivation will be at an all-time high and you’ll be eager to hit the pavement and keen to tick off your walks together each day. In reality, this initial burst of motivation won’t always be present and I’m always saying it’s what we do in the absence of motivation that really counts. So, with that in mind, here are my top tips to help you and your pup stay on track even when motivation starts to fade so that you can continue to see results.
1. Introduce healthy habits
When we have healthy habits in place they become like second nature and simply a normal part of our day. Pencilling in the same time each day to hit the pavement with your dog is an awesome way to put this healthy habit in place and establish a good routine that you’ll both stick to. The best part about having your dog as your training buddy is that they make you accountable – and they’ll always let you know when it’s time to put your runners on and head out for a play!
2. Make it an adventure
Dogs are creatures of habit – they’ll walk the same route each and every day if we don’t mix it up for them. Rather than going for your usual walk, try to introduce some variety into your routine by visiting a new park, taking a new route or hitting a dog beach. Making exercise an adventure and mixing it up is an awesome way to bring an element of excitement for you both.
3. Increase the intensity
When it comes to staying fit, I’ve always been big on quality over quantity. This means focusing on the intensity of a workout rather than volume. Try not to limit your exercise to a walk around the block, instead up the intensity for you and your pet by including some hill sprints to your daily walk or throw the ball and try to do as many squats in between until your dog brings it back.
4. Think of the puppy dog eyes!
When I’m finding it hard to muster up the motivation to tick off my workout, all it takes is one look at Hendrix’s face to get me out the door. Our dogs are truly one of the greatest workout companions – they’re not only the ultimate motivators but stress relievers too, so don’t forget to remind yourself of the health benefits to both of you by just getting out and moving each day.