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Being motivated to work out is one thing, but staying committed to a routine is what yields results, experts say.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, certified yoga and fitness instructor Hilaria Baldwin shared her tips for building an effective exercise routine – and sticking to it.
“One of the most important things about exercise is consistency,” said the mother of seven. “For many of us, life gets in the way – we are parents and we work and all the chaos comes in, so bite-sized movements are really important.”
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Baldwin revealed that her “perfect” workout routine trifecta always includes cardio, strength training and stretching, even if it’s just 10 minutes per day.
For lasting consistency, a fitness routine should fit naturally into one’s lifestyle and schedule, Baldwin said. She recommends setting aside kid-free, work-free blocks of time for movement and self-care.
Baldwin said she makes time for a daily run as her cardio, which she said helps “work out her lungs.” She also incorporates stretching and strength training, which might include physically picking up her kids or toning with weights.
She has also started exercising with her children as a way to blend family time with physical activity.
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The instructor emphasized consistency without overcommitment, noting that doing too much, too soon can lead to burnout.
“If something’s overwhelming, we’re not going to do it,” Baldwin said. “Ultimately, we are going to be creatures of habit … we are going do what we feel like needs to get done – but starting to think of a workout more like brushing our teeth is really important.”
“People are not moving their bodies enough and then we get sick,” she went on. “So, the question is, can we do a little bit to prevent that? And obviously not everything can be prevented, but we know that we should move our bodies most days.”
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Baldwin advised against “biting off more than you can chew.” For example, instead of running three miles as a response to being frustrated about your fitness goals, try running for just 10 minutes – or run for just two minutes at a time and take walking breaks.
“Doing something is better than thinking about it and doing nothing,” she added.
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The fitness instructor also suggested making exercise a family commitment, helping to reinforce that movement and self-care are priorities.
“As moms, we [often] put ourselves last,” she said. “Everybody says put your oxygen mask on first, but we don’t do that.”
“I think showing our children that we are human and we are worth taking care of is really important – not just for our relationship with them, but how they will treat themselves when they’re older.”
When life gets busy, she said, it’s easy to make excuses for not working out. Baldwin admitted that on most days, especially in the summer heat, she has “zero interest” in going for a run.
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“But I know that I’m not going to regret it,” she said. “It’s just about creating the habit and saying, ‘Okay, I’m going to do this, and it’s going to be 30 minutes, and I might hate it, but I’m going to be happy to do it.’”
Baldwin added, “Showing up is the hardest thing. Once you do it and you create a commitment, it completely changes everything.”
‘Love yourself’
Baldwin encouraged the public, especially women, to tap into how “special and unique each person’s body is.”
“Start loving yourself and loving your body, no matter what outside opinions you feel like people are directing at you,” she said. “Feel capable and feel strong and that you’re worth investing in.”
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Baldwin shared that she herself has struggled “tremendously” with this in her own life. “That is one of the reasons that I show up – to tell my body, ‘I love you, you’re worth it.’”
She continued, “Nobody has ever existed who is exactly like you, and no one will ever be exactly like you again. So please live every single day cherishing your body, your unique self, and let’s have fun and move together.”
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