Starting a Fitness Journey...

I know there are a lot of people out there just starting their fitness journeys, and it may seem like way too much to handle all at once, that’s why today I wanted to share some tips and tricks to successfully starting (and continuing) a fitness journey.

First and most importantly is simply starting.  Everyone starts somewhere and no matter where you start from, you can’t make any progress without starting.  Don’t be intimidated by how far you have to go, hell don’t even think about it at first, just START!  Put one foot in front of the other, take it one meal and one workout at a time, and just focus on now.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew – I know it’s easy to get over ambitious and start out doing a lot more than you can handle – the problem is, if you are trying to change too much too quickly you are more likely to burn out and quit sooner.  Start your exercise program slowly and really give your body a chance to get used to it – give yourself plenty of rest days and don’t try to kill yourself with every workout.  Over time, it will get easier and your body will adapt as you add intensity… Give it time, no good change happens over night.

Ask questions!  And do your research – really take the time to learn about what you are doing and why, don’t just go through the motions.  WHY are you eating more protein? WHAT is the difference between a front squat and a hack squat? HOW MUCH cardio is enough and how much is too much?  By learning these things, you are really setting yourself up for your future success.

Realize you are not perfect – everyone has bad days, and that is OK.  Don’t beat yourself up over it, just accept it and move on.  On the other hand, if you seem to be having a LOT of bad days, try to figure out the cause – are you stressed with work/relationships/life in general? Is the diet not realistic (i.e. foods you hate/constantly starving/etc…)? Are you trying to do too much too quickly?  Or are you just not finding yourself motivated enough to tackle it all?  No matter what the reason may be – identify it, and try to fix it.  But don’t beat yourself up over it.

Focus on you, and what you want.  This is a lifestyle change and it is important that you realize that from the beginning – and also that the people that matter  in your life realize that too.  Having a strong support system is key to your success, whether it be from family, friends, workout partners, or a trainer.  Somedays are harder than others, and at some point you may need a little extra motivation or support from someone else – if you have someone in your life that wants to start a fitness journey with you, that is great!  You can offer eachother motivation and accountability which definitely helps to make things a little easier – a trainer can help with this as well.

And last, but certainly not least: if you’re sick of starting over – STOP GIVING UP.  This is your life, and your goal, and if it’s truly important to you, find a way to make it work.  People with far less time/money/resources/etc… are doing it. You can too!