Have you made a promise to yourself to develop a new fitness routine? Good for you! This means you have made a commitment to yourself to improve your health and wellness. By sticking to this goal, you will see positive changes in your physical and mental well-being. Believe me, it will be amazing and totally worth the effort!
If you are making this commitment as part of a New Year’s resolution, you are not alone! This popular resolution is the reason why gyms swell with people in January. But what happens in February? Some people give up on their resolutions because itโs hard to create new habits. But just like the goal to cook more at home (read my tips here), you can develop a new fitness routine, and I want to help you succeed! In fact, Iโll give you tips on how you can be successful for the entire year. Are you ready?
Before I get too far into this post, I want to make sure you download this FREE guide! Put your email in below, download and print it out. Then, use this sheet to guide you and motivate you over the next several months!
New Fitness Routine Tip #1: Find Something That You Love
I think this is the most important thing to do when you start a new fitness routine! When you do something you love, you are more likely to be consistent. Also, you will be more likely to do your workout instead of sleeping in or driving home after work. Itโs important to be true to yourself, which means you may have to deviate from what your friends are doing. If your friends love yoga but you donโt, acknowledge how you feel then find your favorite workout. A workout may speak to you because of the instructor, the class music, the way you feel while in class (strong, accomplished, powerful), and/or the challenges that you overcome in class. If a workout doesnโt feel right (e.g., itโs too taxing on your body), try something else. Whatever it is, find that workout, then do it every week.
But wait. What if you don’t know where to start when it comes to finding something that you love? I’m here to help you out, my friend. It’s time to identify your fitness personality! Don’t worry, this is super simple to do and will only take 2 minutes. Just hop over here and complete a quick fitness assessment. The folks at WebMD have designed this assessment to not only help you learn your fitness personality, but also give you tips about your best place to work out, and tips for breaking through exercise barriers and obstacles. So definitely try it out!
New Fitness Routine Tip #2: Be Consistent by Planning Your Workout Week Every Week
Every week will be full of challenges and commitments; therefore, itโs important to have a place in your schedule for your workouts. Do you put your doctorโs appointments and conference calls on your calendar? You should do the same thing with your workouts, then commit to keeping your workout appointments. Try to respect those appointments in the same way that you would respect an appointment with a doctor, co-worker, or boss.
NOTE: This is especially important if you choose to workout early in the morning because youโll need extra time to prepare/organize the night before, and get to bed on time. Check out this quick video for more tips about how to train yourself to workout in the morning.
New Fitness Routine Tip #3: Find a Partner
Having an accountability partner can be amazing! This is someone who can go on the journey with you. You can share goals with this person, you can motivate each other, and you can even be each otherโs alarm clock! You can also share successes and frustrations with each other. Doing something new (and possibly challenging) with someone can make the process easier and more bearable because you arenโt alone. You can motivate each other through each step of the journey, and celebrate each and every accomplishment!
New Fitness Routine Tip #4: Donโt Get Discouraged
Letโs keep it real: life happens. You (and/or your family) get sick. Traffic is terrible. You have a work deadline that derails your entire calendar, and everything has to be canceled or postponed. Give yourself some space for the unexpected life occurrences that will make you deviate from your plans. Also, when you start a new fitness routine, the workout may be difficult. Youโll be engaging muscles in a new way, or challenging your cardiovascular system in a new way. You should always honor your body by listening to it and pulling back if thatโs what your body needs. Donโt overdo it! If you have to take a break during a workout challenge, take the break and then rejoin when youโre ready. Donโt be hard on yourself for taking a breakโฆjust keep going. Instructors and trainers provide challenges to create positive changes in the body. Know that and donโt use a challenge as an excuse to quit.
New Fitness Routine Tip #5: Donโt Compare Yourself to Others
This can derail any fitness goal. Itโs one thing to be inspired by another person who is further along in their fitness journey, but itโs another thing to be intimidated or motivated to quit because someone looks more [fill in the blank] than you. Everyone has to start somewhere. Everyone. The most important thing is to start, and then to continue. There is no competition with anyone other than yourself! And your competition with yourself should be about being better than you were yesterday.
Now that you’ve been armed with 5 great tips to start and keep a new fitness routine, how do you feel? I hope you feel excited, empowered, determined, and encouraged! You have everything you need to reach the fitness goal(s) you’ve set for yourself. And, by embarking upon this journey, you are going to create tremendous change and transformation in your physical and mental well-being.
So, are you ready to start your new fitness routine? Of course you are! Be excited about what you are about to embark upon, and use my tips above for guidance. Make this your best and fittest year ever because you deserve it!
Oh, and if you want to print these tips for motivation, download my FREE guide for starting a new fitness routine!
Mrs. Traylor is a Fitness Instructor, NASM Certified Personal Trainer &ย Nutrition Coach, AFPA Certified Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness Specialist,ย wife, and momma who provides actionable advice for positive lifestyle changes with fitness, nutrition, and wellness.ย Read about Wendyโs inspiring entrepreneurial journey, and subscribe to Wendy’s newsletter here!
This is great !! I will try to start my exercise routine.
Yay!!! I’m so excited for you Stacey!