The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Fitness Journey
We’ve all been there: Dieting for one week and exercising three times before going off track again. Now is the time for change – get off your diet, workout three times a week and stick with it! It’s time for action.
Make fitness goals that will provide tangible motivation on your fitness journey, whether that means losing weight, building muscle or increasing endurance. Setting tangible and trackable targets will keep you on the right path.
1. Identify Your Goals
Your fitness journey starts by setting goals. Examining why and motivations behind starting to exercise will help curb any urges to quit when life gets in the way or workouts don’t quite go according to plan.
Make a vision board to remind yourself why you started this journey in the first place, such as on your refrigerator or bedroom wall. Create an action plan for each goal each day that can be adjusted as needed – creating a schedule can also help!
Start small and work towards your larger goals. For instance, if your weight-loss goal is jogging without stopping for at least 5k per week without stopping, track that progress each week by writing it down. Setting secondary goals may also serve to keep going even when unforeseen obstacles appear in your path.
Professional guidance can assist in setting realistic goals, while offering markers to measure your progress over time. They may also offer advice and assistance with meeting these goals more quickly – for instance by suggesting equipment suited to your space or workouts that can be performed outside a gym setting.
Beginners need help from an expert in order to assess their fitness level and set realistic goals. In addition, an experienced professional can help devise a routine tailored specifically to you – for instance how best to utilize bodyweight exercises and workouts.
2. Set a Daily Routine
Launching a fitness journey can be an empowering decision that has transformative repercussions in your life. To get started, commit to making exercise a daily part of your routine and remain consistent in this commitment.
Not necessarily meaning getting all 30 minutes in at one sitting; try breaking it up throughout the day into smaller chunks – for instance, 10 minutes each morning, afternoon and evening can provide similar aerobic benefits as an hour-long session. Also make sure that physical activity is something you enjoy; experiment until you find something that makes both heart beat faster and soul soar!
Understanding your goals and why they matter are the first steps toward creating consistency in your fitness journey. When faced with obstacles or feeling like abandoning them, revisit your goals to refocus and remind yourself why they matter so much to you.
Keep a calendar or notebook handy to track each workout you complete; this will serve as an invaluable visual aid of your progress. For added motivation, create a vision board of the results you seek and display it prominently where it can be seen daily.
Goal of creating a sustainable healthy lifestyle that lasts a lifetime: By setting small habits and honing fitness skills over time, the journey itself is as rewarding as its outcomes. So stay committed, believe in yourself and refuel that fire of motivation so this life becomes your best yet! Luckily, Silicon Valley provides numerous gyms, fitness classes, organic grocers, restaurants and retailers who can assist in beginning this fitness journey!
3. Get Moving
Starting any fitness journey can be intimidating. Your mind might conjure images of gym equipment and strangers staring back, but that doesn’t have to be the case; choosing to start moving one step at a time is an incredible accomplishment in itself!
Step one is identifying your goals. Whether your aim is weight loss, building muscle or improving endurance, having clear and realistic targets can provide your workouts with purpose and direction. After setting these goals, make sure they remain visible with a vision board or by adding them into your daily schedule for easy reference!
Beginning your fitness journey slowly is key. Overstraining yourself could result in injury, burnout and disillusionment if done too quickly; to find out where you should start speaking to one of RENPHO’s personal trainers about creating an exercise program customized specifically to you and your body type.
Make moving part of your everyday activities! For instance, try parking further from your destination, taking the stairs instead of an elevator, and adding walking breaks into your workday schedule – the more active you are throughout your day, the simpler it will be to achieve fitness goals!
4. Stay Hydrated
Your body needs water and other hydrating liquids in order to function at its best, and even minor levels of dehydration will make exercise harder and reduce energy levels. Your individual requirements depend on factors like size, age, activity level and diet – drink lots of fluids when exercising in hot environments as well as pre and post-workout hydration strategies.
To figure out the correct amount of water intake, it can help to have a plan in place. Sip steadily throughout the day and drink on an established schedule so you can monitor how much you are drinking; try sipping 8 ounces as soon as you wake up, two glasses at meals and an additional cup before bedtime.
Hydration is of great importance in everyday life, but becomes especially crucial in your fitness journey once sweat becomes an active component. Even just 2% dehydration can have detrimental effects on performance.
To avoid dehydration, it’s also a good idea to replenish lost electrolytes through food and beverage sources like fruits, veggies and broth-based soups. Try mixing in fruit juice with your water for added flavor and to add additional nutrients.
Some beverages can hinder hydration, including coffee, tea and sugary sodas as well as beer, wine and hard liquor – they contain sodium as well as ingredients that deplete water from our tissues. It is best to rely on plain water as your main source of hydration but try adding cucumber, lemon or mint for an added refreshing taste and health benefit.
5. Eat Right
As difficult as fitness can be, it can be easy to veer off track from time to time. Perhaps your diet veered off track or there was some other unavoidable event which prevented your workout – no matter the cause! Just remember that one misstep does not equal failure; rather it’s consistent effort which leads to results over time.
Be sure to consume an appropriate number of calories based on your goals. While it may be tempting to try the latest fad diet, ensuring a balanced approach with lean proteins, whole grains and healthy fats is key for optimal performance. Our nutrition support team at TEAM TEST in Martinsville can assist in pinpointing exactly which nutrients will benefit your fitness level and goals.
One great way to stay on track with exercise is through planning ahead. Create a workout schedule using tools like calendars and reminders, then stick with it! Exercise should become part of your lifestyle gradually by starting small – no need to jump right in to lifting heavy on Day 1, rather start off walking 15-30 minutes daily or taking the stairs!
As is clear from our discussion here, starting a fitness journey requires dedication and hard work, but with guidance and support you can successfully embark upon this exciting new adventure. Set achievable goals, seek medical advice as necessary and develop a routine tailored specifically for yourself – be sure to mark every success no matter how small! And celebrate each milestone along the way; each achievement should be celebrated! Good luck and best of luck with your new venture!
