Exercise Tips for Beginners
At the beginning of the new year, many people set resolutions to exercise more and stick with their new fitness routines. It can be very difficult to begin a new routine that you don’t immediately drop after a week or two, especially right after the holidays. Many people are overly tired and still recovering from lots of eating, drinking and socializing, so getting up for a first day at the gym is very challenging. This article will give you some helpful tips on sticking to your New Year’s fitness goals and getting the body you’re working towards by this summer.
Set Realistic Goals
One of the most difficult elements of starting a new routine is setting achievable fitness goals. If you never go to the gym normally, planning to spend two hours in the gym every day is not a realistic goal. The greater the change to your daily routine, the more difficult it will be to adjust to that change.
It is much better to set some small goals that you can turn into habits and then gradually change your routine over time to get closer to your larger, long-term goals. Break your goals down into smaller achievable steps so that you can stick to your plan.
Prepare for Discomfort
Another factor that deters people from continuing with their fitness goals is discomfort. Anytime you significantly change how much your body moves each day, it will take time for your muscles to adjust. Before your body gets used to your new routine, you may feel uncomfortable and suffer from a lot of soreness.
To help mitigate this, make sure you warm up before strenuous workouts to prepare your muscles and joints. You can also do stretching and a light cooldown, such as a walk, after your workouts to help reduce soreness.
Get Started
However you go about your post-New Year fitness routines, make sure that you take it slow and make small changes that you can stick to. In addition, be ready for some discomfort and try to reduce the stress of your routine change as much as possible so you can stay consistent.