Are you having trouble getting back into exercise?
Between work commitments, family obligations and social events, it may seem daunting — and downright impossible — to add anything else to your plate. As a result, people tend to sacrifice the one thing they might enjoy doing the least — exercise.
Here are our TOP 7 tips to motivate yourself to get back on track!
Find your motivation
The thing about fitness is, you have to want it for yourself. Finding the motivation to get back to the gym and get healthy must come from within.
And it’s not just about finding the motivation, but about having the right kind of motivation to get in shape.
Planning
One of the first steps before you actually dive back into a workout routine is to plan out what you want your routine to look like, and how you want to get there. If it’s been awhile since you last worked out, you’ll definitely want to start small.
Setting Goals
As you ease back into your workout routine, don’t forget to set goals to keep you focused. Here at AB, we recommend setting a S.M.A.R.T. goal–specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-sensitive. “What is your goal…to run a 5K? To feel stronger?” Start there, then create a plan. Find out more on how to set a goal using the S.M.A.R.T method here.
Take your time getting back into a routine
Just a short amount of time off from the gym can undo some of the health gains you’ve made.
A week of full inactivity is going to cause some detriment in your physical performance.
It’s about taking a metered approach, experts suggest, starting with just a few minutes a day of cardio, then working up to longer workouts, incorporating weights and even hiring a health coach or personal trainer.
Go back to basics
It’s also always a good idea to make sure you have the basics down before easing back into a regular workout routine. Basic strength training exercises like squats, lunges, and planks show up in many variations in many different types of workouts, so you’ll want to ensure you have a good foundation before jumping right in.
Take a holistic approach to your workouts
Rather than logging a certain number of miles and then calling it a day, it’s crucial to start thinking about your workouts holistically — that includes your cool down, stretching and recovery, too, experts say.
You want to be functional and pain-free. Unless you are a professional athlete who has to be strong and powerful, your number one focus should be mobility and flexibility.”
Safety Tips
Like we mentioned above, proper warm-up and cooldown are important for your workout.
A good warm-up preps your body for the increase in activity and a cool-down allows your heart rate to return to a normal resting rate.
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