5 Steps to Starting your Fitness Journey
Fitness looks different to each individual, it is not a one size fits all notion. It is a journey and not a destination, ideally it should fit into your lifestyle instead of the other way around. Like all things, the hardest part of undertaking this adventure is the beginning.
This blog post will hopefully give you tips on how to kickstart your fitness journey.
Define your Goal
What are your reasons behind starting this journey?
For some people it might be to get stronger, build endurance or to look a certain way. This will help keep you motivated and focused throughout your journey, especially on those hard days.
Goals can evolve and change, it doesn’t have to remain stagnant, keep challenging yourself. Remember to make sure to have SMART goals meaning goals should be SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ATTAINABLE, REALISTIC and TIMELY.
Find Something you enjoy
What do you enjoy doing? Do you like dancing, walking, running, socialising.
Exercising doesn’t have to fit a certain box, it looks different to most people. Find what you like doing and start your fitness journey with something that is familiar and enjoyable to you. You are more likely to stick to something if it brings joy rather than going through the motion because you have to.
Start Small
Diving into the deep end before you are ready will only lead to drowning and disappointment.
Take baby steps, such as switching the soda for water, a 15 minutes walk round your neighborhood or finally playing the floor is lava with your kid. Try to incorporate these things into your daily routine and before you know it, a habit will be formed.
When this habit has stuck, start adding more to it and challenging yourself.
Establish a Schedule/ Routine
Not a morning person?
Does the thought of working out after a work day fill you with dread? Finding the right time to be active can be challenging for most people but planning ahead can lessen this burden. Make a schedule, find days/times that are convenient for you to fit in a 15–30minutes of activty. I like to do my workouts in the early mornings because it leaves the rest of the day for me to do whatever.
Planning your weekly meals alleviate the worry of cooking a healthy meal each day and it also means less takeouts. If meal prepping is not your thing, no worries. Just make sure your fridge is full of healthy ingredients to make home cook meals. If opting for takeout choose the healthier options.
Be Accountable
In order to achieve your goal you have to be consistent and consistency requires discipline. Some days you might not feel like working out but finding the strength and motivation to push through on those days takes a lot of willpower. Hold yourself accountable or have an accountability partner who will help you push through on those difficult days.
It is also advisable to have rest days, give your body and mind time to recover and adapt to the changes. Allowing yourself to have that slice of pizza or chocolate means you might not need to have a “cheat day”. Satisfy your cravings but remember less is more.
