Finding your groove after you’ve taken a break from your fitness routine can be very hard. Finding motivation is difficult. Being lazy is easier than working out especially in the mornings when all you want to do is to continue sleeping. But taking care of yourself goes beyond paying the bills. It also includes being physically fit. Exercising regularly does not only shed unwanted pounds. It also boosts the immune system and improves blood circulation. So how do you get back into your fitness routine? Here are some tips you need to consider.
Start with Something Easy
You can’t run marathons on your first day back. You used to do this but taking a break can make your body lose muscle memory and running a full marathon on your first day back can cause more harm than good. Instead of aiming high right away and getting disappointed when you don’t accomplish your goal, start with something easy and then raising the bar after accomplishing it. Instead of running for hours, try for something smaller like a 5K run on your first day back into your fitness routine. You can gradually add distance as you get used to working out again.
Starting small will make you feel accomplished and inspire you to work harder. It helps you avoid disappointments and keeps you from getting frustrated if you don’t accomplish your goals.
Stick To A Schedule
Exercising regularly means finding time everyday to actually do it. The best way to stick to a schedule and get back to your fitness routine is to clear time in your calendar for exercising. For example, the most convenient time for you to workout is during morning before everybody gets up. Commit to this schedule for 1 week (start small). As the next week rolls around, check if this schedule is still working and commit for another week and continue until you achieve your fitness goals.
Scheduling workout is important because other commitments are usually the first excuse we dish out when we fail to show up for it. No matter what time of day you schedule your workout, stick to it so you can tick it off and you complete your commitment week-by-week until you reach your goals.
Vary Your Workout
Your fitness schedule should be varied to prevent boredom. If you like to run, switch it up with a couple of days strength training so that you tone other muscles in the body. A varied workout is also the key to being more successful especially if you want to lose weight. Mixing it up is fun. You expose yourself to different exercises and people by taking up Zumba, Cross-fit or Spin Class and alternating it with your regular workout like running. You can also learn a new sport to make workouts varied.
Find a Buddy
A workout buddy is a great idea if you want to go back to working out. You can go on runs or to the gym together. You can motivate each other and make sure you stick to the schedule every week. How would you feel if your gym buddy ditched you? You would feel abandoned, right?
For people who want to lose weight, a gym buddy can also be a diet buddy. You can motivate each other to eat healthier and embrace a better eating lifestyle.
Reward Yourself
Give yourself periodic rewards not just for losing weight but also for staying committed to your workout routine. You can buy new workout shoes after you’ve lost 20 pounds or a pair of new yoga pants after 30 straight yoga sessions. Giving yourself rewards will motivate you to reach your goals and keep going. Rewarding yourself also makes you feel good and accomplished inspiring you to hit the gym harder or to find more ways to keep healthy.
Finally, write a fitness journal. This will help you track your progress as you go along. It shows you how far you’ve gone and what you need to accomplish for the future. It doesn’t need to be detailed but simple information like beginning weight, cholesterol levels, sugar levels, waistline and other small things will keep you inspired especially when you start achieving goals. You can also include motivational quotes and your reward so that you can keep your goals in sight.
