If you’re on this post, chances are you’d like to start working out. Maybe you’ve already started but have a hard time staying consistent. Or maybe you did one workout, got discouraged or busy and stopped exercising. Either way I’m here to guide you on how to start working out and most importantly, sticking with it.
First and foremost, I want to clarify that we all started somewhere. No one was born working out. Some developed this habit at a young age, others did it later on in life. What matters is that you’re taking the steps toward living a healthier life by prioritizing exercise.
Growing up I hated exercise. I avoided sports as much as I could and it wasn’t until my teenage years that I began to consistently exercise. I was doing it for all the wrong reasons, though. I only cared to work out because I wanted to be skinny. Truth be told, the only way to stay consistent with exercise is to actually enjoy it. It might take some trial and error but once you find something you like, your body will start craving it. Which leads me to my first point.
Find a Program You Like
First thing to note is that you need to find something you enjoy. I personally don’t like running, hence why you’ll pretty much never see me running. However, I love Barre and many other types of workouts so I prioritize those. If you’ve never worked out or have no idea what you might enjoy, think about what you like to do in general. Do you enjoy walking? Does lifting weights sound appealing? Try to choose 1-3 different exercises and see how you feel. Please note, always talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program and preferably work with a trainer so you ensure you have proper form.
Don’t Follow A Program Without Guidance
When you’re first starting to workout, it’s important to have someone to teach you proper form. Otherwise, this can lead to injuries. Ideally, let your trainer know that you’re a beginner and if you’ve had any injuries in the past, make sure to let them know about those. If you’re working out at home, make sure to choose a program where the trainer explains the proper form. If you can have a mirror to make sure your form is okay, that helps too. Just make sure you don’t spend too much time looking at yourself in the mirror or else you might strain your neck.
Take It Easy in the Beginning
Let’s say you decide you want to become a runner and start by trying to run 3 miles. You’re going to end up extremely tired, sore and probably won’t want to do it again. It’s great if you set yourself a goal to run 3 miles by a certain time, however it’s not ideal to start off that way. Perhaps during your first run you can run half a mile. That’s great, you’ve started! Then, try to go just over that half mile until you build that endurance and can run a longer distance. Workouts should become part of your lifestyle. And just like we’re not born being experts at walking, we’re not experts at exercising either. It’s all about those baby steps that will eventually get you really far. Be patient with yourself and just keep going.
Find Accountability Buddies
Now that we’ve covered the basics on how to start working out, let’s discuss how to keep that momentum going so it becomes part of your routine. One of my favorite ways to do it is finding accountability buddies. Someone that will help you stay accountable when you can think of all the excuses not to work out. Ideally it’s someone you can text easily, and perhaps even work out together (even if it’s virtually). Find a partner or group of people that can help you stay accountable and you’ll quickly learn what a difference it makes.
I hope this guide on how to start working out was helpful. Let me know where you are in your fitness journey and if you’re past the beginner phase, please share what worked for you. And if you need accountability, always feel free to reach out on Instagram.
