But, after a long, difficult year and a particularly stressful winter, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some tips to help you get in shape for the summer and meet your fitness and health goals.
1. Start with Small Goals
It can be tempting to be overly ambitious when you start a new fitness plan. After all, you’re inspired and have big goals, so it’s natural to start strong in an effort to meet those goals. However, this can lead to burnout, injury, and discouragement.
Avoid this common mistake by starting out with small goals that can help you build a good fitness base. When setting this first goal, be realistic about your fitness level and pick an achievable, short-term goal to work towards. Don’t sign up for an ironman race right out of the gate! Instead, work out three times a week, walking thirty minutes every day or adding one cardio workout per week.
2. Pick Activities that You Like
When creating your workout routine, focus on things that you like to do. Don’t do something just because it’s good for you, or worst yet, because it’s popular; instead focus on the activities that you enjoy doing. The best exercise is the exercise you actually do, so be honest about what you enjoy and focus on those activities.
3. Don’t Forget about Strength Training
Strength training is often overlooked when people first start working out after a long break. It’s natural to focus on cardio and the intensity it can offer. But, strength training is a great way to get a full-body workout and to ensure that you’re building muscle mass as you get in shape.
Try to do 1-2 days a week of strength training that hits all of the muscle groups. And remember, you don’t have to go to the gym for strength training, there are plenty of things you can do at home, even if you don’t have any weights or equipment. For example, push-ups, squats, lunges, and planks ll will give you a great workout in your living room.
4. Find a Workout Buddy
Making workouts social not only makes them more fun but also gives you more accountability, strongly encouraging you to actually do the workout. Plus, after an isolating year, a workout friend or workout group can be a great way to experience the sense of community that many people are craving.
Find a neighbor, friend, co-worker, or family member to join you in your fitness journey. And, even if you can’t workout in-person with others, you can still benefit from a buddy with a shared routine and goals.
5. Reward Yourself Along the Way
Getting healthy can be a long and challenging journey. Help make it easier and more fun with short-term rewards. Find ways to reward yourself when you accomplish even the smallest of your goals. Maybe it’s downloading something new to listen to while you work out, getting new workout clothes or watching a movie you’ve been wanting to see.
It doesn’t need to be a big reward, but get creative with celebrations big and small to help keep yourself on track.
6. Consider Incorporating Interval of HIIT Workouts in Your Routine
Interval training can be a great way to add intensity to workouts and to make it easier to get more out of a short workout. This is particularly helpful for people that are pressed for time and are worried about getting their workouts in every week. Using intervals or doing HIIT workouts can be a great way to get a high-intensity workout in just 20 minutes. Plus, you’ll feel great afterward!
7. Don’t Forget Hydration and Diet
As you incorporate more exercise to make yourself stronger and fitter, it’s also important to think about other things that impact your health. Hydration and diet are two important factors to consider when working towards fitness goals.
With a new workout routine, it’s necessary to make sure that you’re staying hydrated. As you’re working out more, it’s easy to fall behind on water intake. To avoid this issue, pay attention to your water intake and make sure that you’re drinking water throughout the day and before, during, and after workouts.
At the same time, pay attention to what you’re eating. You don’t want to go on a diet but instead, you want to focus on healthy eating. This is the best thing you can do to help achieve your fitness goals and to achieve long-term results.
8. Anticipate Setbacks
At the beginning of a new fitness regimen, it’s natural to feel inspired, motivated, and focused. Over time, however, you’ll find that motivation waning. This is normal, and you should expect it. You might miss a day of working out, end a workout early, or eat something that you wanted to avoid.
Be prepared for these setbacks and don’t let them get you off track. Little slips are fine, what you want is to avoid having little slips turn into major slides. Have a plan in place for what you’re going to do when you have a setback, don’t be too hard on yourself when you do, and remember to stay focused on what’s ahead.
Now is a great time to start getting fit for summer. Doing so will make sure that you’re strong and confident when the summer months arrive, allowing you to enjoy everything the season offers.
One good way to kick off a new fitness regimen is with some new gear. Best Compression Socks Sale has a number of fun socks to add the extra excitement and support that your new routine needs. Check out our compression socks and get a pair today to jumpstart your fitness plan.