Kicking Off a Fitness Routine That You'll Stick With

There are two times of the year when people tend to kick off new exercise routines:  January, when the effects of the holiday binge have set in and everyone is turning over a new leaf; and summer, when bikini season is in full swing and the effects of overindulgence and too much time on the couch are starting to become all too obvious. Fitness goals abound.  For a few weeks, you’re dedicated to getting to the gym on a regular basis, making healthy eating choices, and avoiding those “traps” that have you piling on the pounds.  Soon, however, you start to slide back into your old habits.  Before you know it, you’ve stopped going to the gym altogether.  You know that fitness isn’t about spending a few weeks kicking yourself back into shape to reach a goal, so how do you make choices that will help you not only get in shape, but stay that way?
 
Don’t treat it as a temporary change.
 
You already know that repeat dieting can have a yo-yo effect on your weight and ultimately lead to more weight gain than if you had simply kept to your usual habits.  When you change your eating habits, you have to make lifestyle changes, not just quick-fix diet plans.  The same is true of your fitness routine.  Fitness isn’t just about looking great in your swimsuit for the summer months.  It’s about an active lifestyle.  When you shift your mindset from “I have to do this for the next X weeks,” to “This is the way I’m going to do it from now on,” you make a lifestyle change that will stick.
 
Find ways to hold yourself accountable.
 
Find a friend to work out with you, or get your spouse on board with your fitness plan.  You’ll be much more likely to get yourself out of bed an hour early and make it to the gym if you know that you have a friend waiting on you.  Consider joining a team or group:  the more pressure there is on you to get in your workout every day, the more likely you’ll be to do it.
 
Do something you enjoy.
 
Do you genuinely enjoy running, when it’s just you and the pounding of your feet on the pavement?  If so, it’s a great workout for you.  On the other hand, if you dread it and find yourself counting down every footstep until you can finally stop, running probably isn’t the best workout for you.  Find something that you love doing, whether that’s playing a sport, attending a class, or lifting weights.  Find your sweet spot to give you the incentive to keep coming back.
 
Try out something new.
 
What classes are offered by your gym?  What about the other activities that you can look into locally?  Have you ever tried out kickboxing?  Dancing?  What about yoga?  There are plenty of ways to get yourself moving, and you might be surprised by the ones that you enjoy most.  Take advantage of a new class.  Don’t be afraid to be the “new guy”–even the teacher at the front of the room had to start somewhere!  Ask questions, try out new things, and don’t be afraid to fail.
 
Have fun while you exercise.
 
Classes are a great way to interact with people and make exercise more enjoyable.  If you don’t have the option of a class that’s convenient for you, however, look for other ways to make it fun.  Listen to your favourite music, watch a “guilty pleasure” show on television, or get silly with a friend while you’re exercising.  All of those will add to your enjoyment of the experience and make it more likely that you’ll come back and do it again.
 
Celebrate small successes.
 
When you first begin a fitness routine, you might have an idea of what you’d like to see change in your body.  Often, people approach fitness with big, lofty goals.  “I want to be able to run a 5k.”  “I want to lose fifty pounds.”  “I want to be able to lift my body weight or more.”  All of these are excellent goals, but they aren’t achieved overnight.  If you truly want to reach those goals, celebrate the small successes along the way.  Lose five pounds? That’s reason for celebration.  Add five pounds to your maximum weight?  Run fifteen minutes longer than usual, or shave a few seconds off of your time?  All of these are reasons to celebrate.  Enjoying the small successes makes the big ones seem much more possible.
 
Make small changes along the way.
 
Don’t think that you can change your entire routine overnight and expect it to stick forever.  While there are some people who can pull this off, you’re more likely to make the kinds of lifestyle changes that will last if you make them one small step at a time.  For example, your “dream you” might go to the gym for an hour at a time, five days a week.  Unfortunately, the “real you” is a lot more hit or miss; most weeks, you’re lucky if you make it once.  Instead of committing to a complete upheaval of your routine, start by going to the gym for thirty minutes a session, three days a week.  Once you’ve made that part of your regular routine, add in an extra fifteen minutes a session, or go for an extra day.  Before you know it, you’ll have worked up to your final goal–but it won’t feel nearly as hard as jumping into it all at once.
Looking for more fitness tips for beginners?  Feel free to contact us with any questions you have.
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