Aside from maintaining a healthy diet, exercising is one way to keep you fit and healthy. But in this fast-paced world, working out becomes difficult due to lack of time and other personal issues getting in the way. As a result, most people fail to stick, or at least start their exercise routines.
Starting your exercise regimen has a lot of benefits. Aside from the weight aspect, a balanced fitness program can help reduce your risk of various illnesses and at the same time, aids in improving your balance, coordination, and self-esteem.
Working out should be a fun activity and should not be confined to just going to the gym. In fact, exercising can be done, anytime, anywhere. And with these 5 simple steps, you can surely start your exercise regimen and achieve the body you’ve always wanted.
1. Establish Your Fitness Goals
Before you start to do anything, it is important to establish your fitness goals first since this will determine what kind of work out routines you will have to do. For instance, are you exercising in order to lose weight or you simply want to maintain your current weight? Are you preparing for a marathon or a triathlon competition? Do you want to add up some muscle mass and develop six-pack abs?
Keep in mind that having clear, reasonable, and achievable fitness goals can help you keep on track and gauge your progress as you go along your exercise.
2. Choose a Workout Routine
There are thousands of workout routines available. However, not all are suitable for you. When starting your exercise regimen, it is important to determine your preferences and which types of exercises you are more comfortable doing. Find an activity that you enjoy most such as running, biking, or swimming.
Regardless of the type of fitness program, you decide to do, it should contain the following: warm-up, strength conditioning and training, cardio component, mobility and flexibility training, and cooling down.
Again, working out is not just about going to the gym. It has to depend on the activities and types of exercises you are more inclined of doing. At the same time, include other activities aside from your usual routines in order to have a variety. Doing the same workouts every day can bore you out.
3. Schedule and Make Time
This is probably the most challenging part to deal with – sticking with your workout plan. If you really want to achieve your fitness goals, then include exercise as one of your priorities and devote at least an hour of your time to it. Don’t come up with thousands of excuses just to get away with your fitness goals and in the end, regret the fact that you did not properly stick to it.
To make it easy for you to include workout in your schedule, replace an unnecessary habit such as watching television or drinking out with friends. If you have friends who also love to exercise, join them even if you won’t be doing the same routines. It is much better if your husband or any member of the family is also interested in exercising since it can be a good way to spend quality time together.
Also, consider working out as a social routine where you can meet people of the same interest. The good thing about enrolling in classes or going to the gym is you get to know other people and can even widen your network, which will eventually help you later on in life.
4. Monitor your progress
When exercising, have an exercise journal where you can keep track of the type of exercises you are doing and how long does it take you to finish it. You can also list down not just how much weight you’ve lost but also how many inches were shed off, particularly in the waist and hip area.
By recording and properly accounting for the workout you’ve done, you will be able to monitor any progress made and at the same time, show you how hard you’ve been working in order to attain your fitness goals. This will even help in inspiring you to work hard, even more, knowing that your strength and fitness level are actually improving.
5. Keep Yourself Motivated
Now that you’re losing weight and is almost close to achieving your fitness goals, that does not mean you should stop working out. And not because your workouts are starting to become easier does it mean you have to be complacent. As much as possible, keep yourself motivated by increasing the intensity of your routines.
Also, try incorporating other forms of exercise by doing something different, even if it means going outside your comfort zone. Don’t stop just because you’re ‘almost there.’ It is still important to maintain a focused mindset as if you haven’t reached your goal yet.
Don’t forget that your road towards achieving your fitness goals may take some time. Keep in mind that with the proper mindset, focus, hard work, and time, you’ll eventually achieve it and attain the body you’ve always wanted.