male fitness

The Basics of Starting a New Fitness Routine

Hey Angels and Alphas,

Whether you’re young, old, bulky, skinny, male, or female, fitness can sometimes come down to whether you’re ready to start and stick to a new routine.

Even if you’ve already found the perfect workout program, you may keep finding reasons to push back the start date to a later time. But if you can overcome any barriers to starting your fitness routine, sticking with it often does not present much of a challenge.

If you’re someone who is struggling with your new fitness routine, there are countless methods you can use to instantly get back on the right track and make progress toward that new goal.

Give a few of these expert-backed tips a try.

#1 GO BACK TO THE BASICS

It’s completely OK to feel overwhelmed by all the workout options out there, and you might not be ready to commit to a fitness membership. That being said, there are other ways to add an effective workout. 

People usually get so caught up in the idea that an effective workout has to last over an hour, with a 20-minute drive to the gym in order to lift heavy weights under fluorescent lights. In reality, daily activities such as walking your dog, choosing the stairs, cleaning your house, and playing with your kids should all count as exercise.

That’s why so many people start off with a fundamental form of exercise such as walking. It is, by far, the most underrated form of cardio and weight management out there.

You can start by choosing one non-negotiable task that you may commit to doing every day so you can reach your goal. It could be just as simple as going for a 15-minute walk after your dinner or waking up an hour early to walk some extra steps before you start your day.

#2 FORGET ABOUT THE “ALL-OR-NOTHING” MINDSET

Regardless of how motivated and well-meaning you might be, you’re bound to have some days where your workouts just don’t go as planned. The most important factor here is not to let one missed workout — or even a few of them in a row— derail you. All you have to do is brush it off and think about the long haul.

Fitness isn’t about being all-in or all-out. There’s a sweet middle ground where all of the magic and sustainable changes happen. As long as you do your best to show up on most days, you are going to see results.

#3 ALWAYS EASE INTO IT

Whether you’re new to exercise or you’re a seasoned pro going for a new routine, be sure to ease into it. If you try to sprint 3 miles or lift 225lbs as a total newbie, you’re guaranteeing yourself disappointment and probably even injury. 

Instead of going all into a new, intense routine, work at a level that’s manageable for you so you can give your body time to learn a few new movement patterns. 

By taking on a more moderate, sustainable approach that includes rest days and adding in more functional movements, you’re will have a higher chance to be consistent with your routine and less likely to end up injuring yourself.

#4 DO MORE OF WHAT YOU ENJOY

There are endless options you can choose from when it comes to exercise; there’s no reason to force yourself to do activities you don’t particularly like doing. Not only that, but you’ll only make it harder to stick with your new exercise routine. 

If you just hate spinning or running, you’re much better off finding an approach that lets you choose movements you enjoy and go from there. 

#5 WORK WITH WHATEVER TIME YOU’VE GOT

If you don’t usually have a free hour in your day to dedicate to training, it might not be the best idea to commit to a fitness routine that requires you to do hour-long workouts. Focus on choosing a routine that fits your schedule.

Always be ready to pivot on days in which your planned workout just isn’t going to happen like you want it to. Recognize that even a shortened version of your workout is much better than nothing. Moreover, by keeping your workouts bite-sized at the beginning, you’re going to allow yourself to ease in your workouts and show up more consistently on a daily basis.

#6 THINK ABOUT THE LONG TERM

Can you imagine yourself doing your routine and sticking with it a year from now? Five years from now? If not, you may want to repurpose it a little bit. Real, sustainable progress will take time. You have to take yourself out of the usual short-term, results-oriented thinking and find a sustainable routine you can keep up with for the long haul.

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