How to Get Started with Fitness: A Beginner’s Guide to Building a Healthier Lifestyle
Starting a fitness journey matters. If there is one thing you can do that will help your mental and physical health, and your overall wellbeing, it would be exercise. However, exercise can be a huge struggle for some people, as it can feel overwhelming. Social media isn’t helpful when you see athletes, advanced workout routines and unrealistic transformation stories. While social media has its benefits, such as access to free information and inspiring individuals, it can be hard when you see someone else’s highlight reel. It is also easy to compare; however, you are comparing your day one to their year five. The truth is, getting fit doesn’t have to mean expensive equipment, activewear or two-hour routines each day. Positive change will come from creating something sustainable and enjoyable that fits into your lifestyle, meets your needs and helps you to achieve your goals.
Whether you want to build muscle, lose weight or feel better, here are some top tips you need to hear to support you in getting started on your fitness journey.
Set clear and realistic goals
Before you start any exercise routine, it is important to identify what you want to achieve. Some people focus on building strength and mobility, while others want to lose weight. When you know what you want to achieve, it can help you to stay motivated, and you can find the right activity for you. If you simply want to exercise and enjoy it, that is more than enough of an intention, then you can experiment to find what is sustainable for you.
Find something you enjoy
Whether joy is the goal or not, it is important that you find something you don’t completely hate. You might not love it 100%, but it needs to be something you can do every week. It is a huge mistake to try to force yourself to do something you don’t enjoy, as it will feel like a chore and a punishment. It will also be extremely hard to keep up with. When you find something you enjoy, you will be able to maintain it consistently.
There are so many different ways you can exercise; the gym is just one of them. You can walk, run, cycle, swim, hike, do yoga, dance, and more.
Find a community
Community, or even an accountability partner or friend, can make the world of difference when it comes to exercising.
Fitness 19 is an example of a gym with a great community. You have access to great facilities, people and personal trainers. For some people, this is exactly what you need to get started.
Alternatively, you may find a friend who is on the same journey as you. When you can do it together and support each other, it will make the process a lot nicer, and it will be easier to reach your goals and stay motivated.
Fitness doesn’t happen overnight. Rather than going to extremes, follow these top tips to help you get started and create a sustainable routine that works for you.
