How to Get Started or Resume a Healthy Routine
With how crazy 2020 has been as a whole I can guess that many people have ventured away from their fitness routines and goals at some point. Or maybe never really got started since COVID hit. Now we are approaching the last 2 months of the year and it’ll be the time when many people set goals to get in shape! Here’s the deal, it’s 100% okay if simply walking up a flight or stairs or the thought of doing 10 push-ups seems impossible. We’ve all got to start somewhere right? It can be super intimidating to start a new routine or jump back into one but trust me when I say it will only take two weeks to notice a difference and be well on your way to making a habit out of fitness!
First let’s address some tips for those just now getting started on your fitness journey.
Have patience – This is a HUGE part in starting anything new, health related or not. There is no magic, quick fix when it comes to our health. I mean you didn’t gain the weight in a matter of a few days, so please don’t expect to lose it in that amount of time either. Whatever your goals are, physical or mental ones, just know that they won’t be achieved over night. You have to give yourself some grace and be patient with your body. Working out and eating healthy take time and effort in order to see results. Be patient.
Create Routines – Finding a routine is key to success. Yes, of course you need motivation too, but the true key here is a ROUTINE. This is a new and exciting adventure, so motivation should be high, but that will pass. Let’s just be honest. But if you create a routine that you can stick with, you will continue to work towards your goals whether you feel like it or not!
Be Consistent – Consistency and routines kind of go hand in hand. You wouldn’t expect your flowers to grow/live if you didn’t consistently water them, right? So, your workout and nutrition routines are no different. You can’t expect to lose weight or reach your personal goals without consistency. We all have those days or weeks when life happens and sticking with our goals becomes difficult, BUT in order to be successful we must be consistent at LEAST 80% of the time.
Do this for YOU – This is YOUR journey, no one else’s. So we shouldn’t be comparing ourselves to anyone else then, right? It’s so hard with social media to not scroll through countless transformations and think “why don’t I look like that”, but you just can’t play that game. What you’re seeing in that moment could be YEARS in the making. Just because it took one person 12 weeks to achieve their goals, doesn’t mean it’ll be the same for you. Keep pushing, keep doing the things you know work, and do it at your own pace.
Diet Matters – You can’t out work a poor diet. Pouring hours into the gym won’t help you lost the weight or tone up if your diet is complete crap. Personally, the plant-based and portion-controlled system we use works wonderfully for us. But that doesn’t mean it will for you. Just find something that you can stick with and do it. Whatever that might be, just find a meal plan.
Ditch the Scale – The scale does not define you. I have never been a huge stickler for the scale throughout my fitness journey. For me, it’s all about how I am feeling and how my clothes are fitting. Don’t obsess about the number, instead focus on how you feel and are looking in your progress pics.
Make Attainable Goals – Being and getting healthy is a LIFESTYLE change, not a quick one. So, remember when setting goals for yourself to make them realistic and achievable. Find simple and easy ways to incorporate health into your life that you will be able to maintain on a regular basis.
What if you’ve already found a routine that has worked for you in the past, but took a loooong break?? Well here are some simple tips for you to jump back in!
Set Realistic Goals – You’ve done this before, so you know what to do. But that doesn’t mean you can assume your body will just magically go back to before you took your break. You have to set yourself up for success, and that involves making goals. You don’t have to workout 7 days right off the bat if that’s what you were doing before. If you can consistently workout 3-4 days a week, you’ll still get great results. Write out your goals and make them attainable.
Remember that Getting in Shape Takes Time – Remember how difficult it was the first time you started working out?? Well I hate to break it to ya, but this won’t be any different. The first workout back is probably going to suck. Or the first one back might go amazing, then the ones to follow suck. You have all of this energy and motivation to get back in it but then day 2 rolls around and you’re sore and tired – that’s OK! Being sore is a great sign that your body is doing the things it’s supposed to be doing in order to build muscle. It’s going to suck to get back into it, but once you get past those first 2 weeks you’ll feel so much better!
Remind Yourself How Far You’ve Come; Not How Far You Have to Go – Every single day that you show up brings you one step closer to your goals. There is literally no such thing as a bad workout, get out there and DO IT! When you choose to workout or to eat healthy that is a big step, it should be celebrated! It doesn’t matter what you did yesterday or last week, stay in the now. Forgive yourself for the food you wished you didn’t eat, the workouts you’ve missed, etc, etc. It’s all in the past!
Reward Yourself Along the Way – There are so many ways to give yourself little rewards and incentives along the way. For instance, putting a dollar in a jar for every workout then treating yourself to new workout clothes. Making a calendar or schedule and marking out the days you complete then once they’re all complete getting yourself some new workout shoes (my personal favorite)!
Make Yourself and Your Health a Priority – This is for YOU so it should be YOUR time. Sometimes we’ve got to put our workouts first; before the emails, before getting the kids ready for school, before all the chaos of the day begins. It’s okay to spend some money on this too, it’s so much more satisfying to spend money on your health now than medical bills later.
Tomorrow is Always a New Day – No matter how many times you “fall off the wagon”, miss a goal, or steer away from your priorities there is always a new day and a chance to start again tomorrow!
