Starting a strength and fitness routine for the first time or getting back into the gym after a long time off can be daunting and frustrating.
If you are new to exercise, you probably feel overwhelmed and confused from all of the contradictory information out there.
And for those who trained hard in the past and once rocked a svelte body, may be feeling discouraged to even get started by what they now see in the mirror.
What’s done is done, so forget about the past, because the future will give you plenty to worry about.
My team and I at Breakthrough Fitness are not as interested in why you stopped as much as why you’re starting up again.
And we’re excited for you!
That’s why I put together this 5-step guide (1 step each of the next five Friday’s) on how to start working out again or for the first time.
Set your goals and seeking help
Goals allow us to map out actions to take that will lead us to the results we want.
I want to improve my strength and stamina, so I can keep up with my grandchildren.
Let’s say this is your goal. Now that you have something to work towards, you can reverse engineer and create action goals.
First, you want to look at your schedule and make time for strength & conditioning training.
The time you have available is a factor in determining what gets done.
This is a good time to sit down with a professional fitness coach. A good coach/facility will dig deeper into your current state of fitness and movement abilities, gathering information to create a program that fits your needs and wants within the time you can commit.
The program is only as good as the execution, so it’s time to do the work.
Since you are just beginning or took a long hiatus, an appointment with someone else and the accountability this person will provide is very important.
Why?
Because this is something new and starting something new is not always easy.
If you are left to your own devices, it’s highly probable that you will not prioritize your training sessions and give less than desirable effort.
Consistency and steady progress will get you to your goals.
Investing in yourself by hiring a coach and being part of an intentional community, will help make the beginning stages enjoyable and help keep you consistent, leading to faster improvements.
Strength and fitness is ‘use it or lose it” type stuff. The goal is to start and make it part of your life forever.
Setting yourself up for success from the beginning increases the odds heavily in your favor.
Have a great weekend!
Keep moving,
Coach Dom
