If you want to start a new fitness routine, you may be feeling a bit disheartened and intimidated, even though you haven’t taken any concrete steps yet.
Sure, the fitness world can seem confusing and elitist from the outside. But once you make working out and eating healthy a part of your lifestyle, you’ll learn it’s simple, enjoyable, and tremendously powerful.
Here’s how you can start your journey without feeling like you have to change every habit you currently have.
Set a Realistic Goal
Before you jump in, consider what it is you want to achieve. Are you looking to lose a bit of weight, or are you looking to get stronger? Do you want to become a good runner, or would you just like to do something sustainable and fun to improve your health?
Whatever the aim, make sure it’s realistic and achievable. Break it down into small, easy, and simple milestones, and focus on them. It will help you stick to your new routine, and it won’t overwhelm you by sheer size.
Find a Workout Routine You Enjoy
The reason most people give up on their fitness journey is staggeringly simple: they try to do something they don’t actually enjoy. If you have to do something you don’t like doing every day, you will give up as soon as you allow yourself to.
Instead of copying some fitness influencer’s routine, figure out how you like to work out. No matter what your goal is — weight loss, muscle gain, or improved health — there is a way to achieve it and have lots of fun.
Try all kinds of different things: team sports, martial arts, lifting weights, pilates, running, swimming, biking, etc. If you want to get into strength training, find the exercises you like. You don’t have to do crunch after crunch if it drives you mad.
Change Your Diet Slowly
The biggest challenge most people face on their fitness journey is changing their diet. They try to do too much too soon and end up hating their new menu.
Start adjusting what you eat very slowly. First, understand how many calories you need to eat on a daily and weekly basis to support your goals. Then pick one meal to tinker with, and keep the rest of your diet as is.
Make sure you choose foods you like. You don’t have to eat something you find disgusting. There are literally thousands of recipes out there that are healthy, within a specific caloric range, and very tasty. You can even make healthier versions of your favorite sweets.
Don’t forget there are no “good” and “bad” foods. Some foods are healthier than others, but as long as you eat everything in moderation and stick to your recommended caloric intake, you can basically eat whatever you want.
Consider Adding Supplements to Your Diet
When you first start considering supplements and vitamins, you will probably be confused by the number of products available.
Depending on your goals, you can choose to take some to help your body recover and achieve more. For example, taking a creatine supplement will help you build muscle mass, so it’s ideal for weightlifters, but it won’t be beneficial for runners.
Talk to your doctor and a trainer at your gym, and do a bit of online research to figure out where to get started. As you get more and more familiar with the fitness industry, you will naturally start to find new products that align with your specific targets.
Buddy Up
Working out on your own and being accountable only to yourself can sometimes make achieving your goals much harder than it needs to be.
Find a friend who wants to start working out too, and do as many activities together as you can. You can also join a local fitness center or gym and take a group class or find yourself a trainer or training buddy. Plenty of gyms offer training sessions for small groups.
If none of your friends are into fitness, try to meet someone at your desired activity. People who are physically active tend to want to try new things too, so someone you meet in dance class will also likely be up for pilates.
Wrapping Up
Don’t overthink your new fitness journey. You don’t have to become an entirely different, fitter person overnight. Take it one step at a time, enjoy each one, and don’t punish yourself if you slip up! It’s meant to be a fun experience that you’ll want to hold on to for the rest of your life.
