Start Your Fitness Journey - Even if You Hate Exercise
If you’re not into the “new year new me” spiel but do want to get into fit gear- you’re not alone
But maybe maybe maybe….. you’re just not that into …….exercise.
Perhaps you’ve tried before, going on runs or lifting weights…. but it ends quicker than your bill for your alo leggings came.
You get bored results tak awhile to acheive and someitimes pricey memberships add up…
Even if you hate most forms of fitness… lets see if we can reframe our thoughts about exercise and how you can get those fitness levels you’re after.
Find movement you like
Listen the dentists is good for ya but would you go every day?
Too many people turn to the gym, cycling, or running and then quit as it’s not something they even like and tbh- they actually dread doing.
There are so many different types of activities you can do, a lot of which you may not have ever considered.
Try pickleball, kayaking, rock climbing, ice-skating, aerial yoga, hula hoops, pole fitness - you can do outside activities or indoor activities, the list can go on.
Enlist a friend or family member to go with you
Try taking a class with a friend or co worker , going for sa walk after work or on a weekend or go on a hike together.
Friends and family members are great at holding you accountable and motivating and may give you another change to be social or see someone you love another time or two a week.
Exercising with someone you know is also a lot more fun than doing it on your own and it can help you perform better, especially if you are competitive.
Along with using a personal training company like One21Fitness to help you exercise and stay motivated, other folks are on your team and help you get fit and stay fit
Focus on being healthy not numbers
According to the CDC Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.
Dont just focus on weight loss or gain- associate it with being healthy. Exercise is good for a whole range of things including your mental and physical health, your entire body will benefit from regular exercise and so will your brain.
Why not commit to moving more once or twice a week and see how you do?
Go easy on yourself
Make it fun not forced!
A lot of people put a lot of pressure on themselves to get fit instead of focusing on some of the small wins along the way. When starting your journey back into the fitness world, don’t set yourself high targets to achieve, such as exercising 3 or 4 times a week or losing x amount of weight.
Instead, make realistic targets reward and acknowledge yoiurself when you hit them and try to enjoy the journey. The less pressure you put on yourself, the more likely it is you will continue to exercise into the distant future.
These are just a few top tips that should help you to exercise if it’s never been your thing.
Working out doesn’t need to be a chore and once you’ve found something you enjoy, you might find you really enjoy it
There are so many forms of exercise, from pilates to yoga to dance to lifting to jogging.
The important thing is to not be too hard on yourself and remember you’re exercising for your own personal goals, not for anything else.
Remember, when you do start exercising again, there is a good chance your body will ache after. It’s important you factor in some rest and recovery periods to avoid the chances of injuring your body. If you get an injury, this can demotivate you again, which is something we want to avoid. Before and after every session, factor in some stretches that focus on the muscle groups you were working on.
You can do a mixture of static and dynamic stretches and aim for a stretch of around 30 seconds, 3 sets. The more stretching you do, the more flexible your muscles will get and the quicker you will recover after a session.