How To Start A Successful Fitness Routine From Scratch
By Keep It SimpElle – Source
ResultSport
July 14, 2021
Figuring out how to start working out as a beginner, or after some time off your regular fitness routine can be pretty tricky. I’ve lost count of how many people drop into a conversation about “how fit I must be” or “you’re always working out” when in fact, the reality is very different.
Many of us have a lot of things to juggle – at one point for me I had an MSc, teaching classes, blogging and a full time job on the go! And all of that needed doing before I could workout for myself.
Although things are different for me now, I still have a lot going on. However, despite the unpredictablitly in my schedule, I think the one thing I need in my life is a solid fitness and wellbeing routine.
The Hardest Part is The First Step
I can speak from experience on this one. Although it takes time to build up fitness in any sport or activity, it’s pretty ease to lose it when you stop. Because fitness loves consistency.
This makes starting again, or getting back on the wagon, one of the most difficult parts. So in collaboration with Very.co.uk and their huge selection of sport & fitness products, I put together a few of my favourite tips to help you get moving, start exercising and stick to it!
Start With Small Changes
Every run or workout doesn’t have to be the “go big, or go home” type. Personally, I regularly fail to hit my planned workouts due to overcommitting.
Adding a class every day to gaps in my schedule always seems realistic but your diary doesn’t account for how you will physically feel.
Tess (FitBits) reminded me that we should all be kind to ourselves. She said “don’t rush back into where you were before… with running and cycling, make every session an adventure and find new routes to explore. Some of the greatest experiences I’ve had are riding my bike in new places.”
I found that 2x runs and 2x rides per week were a good place to start with building consistency. Anything else I do, becomes a bonus.
Being active is great not just for your physical health – it’s also of great benefit to your mental health. You can try adding a regular walk to your routine as a form of daily movement – and getting active outdoors have been shown to be good for your mind and body.
Don’t Go It Alone
Most of us would imagine this one was obvious, and so it might be. However, I don’t think it’s as easy as it sounds especially for those who find themselves in situations where they don’t actually know anyone.
It can be even harder to make friends as we get older, but there are fitness communities out there just waiting to have you get involved!
These days, there’s a club for everything, be it virtual or offline (when restrictions allow). And there are loads of virtual running events and races you can get involved in!
If you do have friends and family that like to be active, then make some plans with them! Helen (1 Vision 2 Girls) says “make fitness plans with friends, run together, cycle together etc, less likely to cancel if you are accountable to someone else”.
And I know that works because, having once arranged to go to parkrun with Helen, I remember I woke up on the day and seriously considered cancelling. I’d even written the text message in my head! But I did’t want to be that person – I want to be associated with having integrity. So I went, I ran and I had a great morning!
Do You Need A Goal?
Now this one is personal and I believe is determined by how you are motivated – i.e internally or externally. I’ve had goals that have kept me on track and I’ve had goals that make no difference when I decide to skip a session.
Is a goal something you need? Or would a training plan suffice? Check out Auro fitness app or the FIIT app both of which are packed full of workout plans that you can do at home, in the gym or whilst travelling.
Now with so much fitness being offered online, you can easily workout at home with no equipment or pick up a few pieces. Very.co.uk have a wide range of fitness equipment and sports equipment.
My current fitness goals are to feel energised, remain healthy and to find inspiration for my teaching. I’m also building back my running fitness using couch to 5k and cycling fitness with Zwift.
If It Aint Fun, What’s The Point?
This was a quote I heard someone say years and years ago that just stuck with me. People, life is short. Don’t beat yourself up for missing a workout and don’t force yourself to do something that you don’t enjoy.
Switch things up – try a new sport or activity. You meet new people and you’re learning a new skill again rather than doing the same thing all the time.
And I’d just add, keep on switching it up till you find something that motivates you and excites you every time you do it!
This was a quote I heard someone say years and years ago that just stuck with me. People, life is short. Don’t beat yourself up for missing a workout and don’t force yourself to do something that you don’t enjoy.
Switch things up – try a new sport or activity. You meet new people and you’re learning a new skill again rather than doing the same thing all the time.
And I’d just add, keep on switching it up till you find something that motivates you and excites you every time you do it!
resultSport
resultsport.com
Sharing is caring!
