It can be tricky to get back into a healthy fitness routine if you have been out of one for a long time. We are not just talking about getting your lungs back to their old strength and getting past that point where your muscles complain about all the work that you are making them do.
We are talking about getting your confidence back. Knowing that you are capable of doing this and that all this hard work is going to be worth it in the end. If you have been wanting to start exercising again but you are worrying about how to get started, here are a few tips to help you out.
( Image : https://pixabay.com/users/stocksnap-894430/ )
Make A Routine That You Can Keep To
One of the classic mistakes that anyone with a good fitness routine will tell you about is aiming too high right out of the gate. It can be tempting, especially if it has been a while since you last exercised regularly, to try to meet your old personal bests straight away, or to do thing that you think will be hardest. Don’t do this.
It is OK to start small, the important thing is getting a routine going. Make sure that you have a time set aside for exercise every day and keep to it. Even if it’s just half an hour at first, the routine is your building block. Remember that you should be doing at least 150 minutes of moderate intensive activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensive activity.
Keep A Log Of Your Activity
When you are right at the start of your fitness journey, it can feel like you aren’t making any progress at all. You won’t necessarily be getting faster very quickly, it can take a little while to lose weight depending on your body type, and all you’ll be thinking about is how hard it all is. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that nothing is happening. It is, you might just not be able to see it yet.
Use a fitness app or a watch like a Garmin to keep track of all your physical activity. You will be able to see your heartrate as you exercise, and you can monitor your times to see how you are improving. Why not look at Garmin watch straps to make it feel more personal? By making your watch look more stylish, you’ll then be inclined to wear it more regularly.
Start Treating Your Body Better
If you’re finding that you are not that confident about your fitness levels, then it might be time to identify some parts of your diet that you can change. We have all been drinking a lot more alcohol during the pandemic. Supermarkets and shops sold 12.6 million extra litres over the financial year. As much as we’re all looking forward to drinks with friends now that we can, alcoholic beverages are full of empty calories, and they can seriously affect your mood.
Speaking of mood, we all know about the crashes that can come after having too many sugary treats. Try to cut down on the amount of sugar in your diet by swapping in healthy snacks such as fruits, nuts and vegetables.
