If you are just beginning a fitness regimen, congratulations to you! You have decided to give it a try and with it enjoy some benefits that may have eluded you. Even as you begin, you may wonder if engaging in a fitness routine is right for you. It certainly can be, especially if you are looking to tone your body, lose weight, feel better and look great. The following tips are for the novice trainer.
1. Stick with it. You are not certain that a fitness routine is right for you. Well, you won’t know for sure unless you get started. Therefore, commit to your regimen for two weeks before making a long-term decision. Chances are after the two weeks are up you will be satisfied with the results and will want to continue with what you are doing. Or, you may want to modify your routine to accommodate your lifestyle.
2. Eat sensibly. After a strong workout you may decide you don’t want to eat a regular meal, preferring a snack instead. After all, you just burned off hundreds of calories and a regular meal will have you consuming that amount once again. This is a mistake: your body needs nutrients and regular food consumption is in order. Besides, now that your body is accustomed to exercising, you will be burning calories at a greater rate throughout the day.
3. Be realistic. You may have embarked on an exercise routine in a bid to lose weight. You may have a specific goal in mind such as losing 12 pounds in five weeks in a bid to fit in a particular sized bridesmaid dress. Here, you need to be careful: your goal may be too specific and you may end up taking a less healthy path to reach your goal. Avoid the specifics, but do embrace the general guidelines and you will be satisfied.
4. Work those muscles. With each rep, you will feel your muscles respond. If you concentrate on the soreness you will ease your routine. This doesn’t mean embracing the pain, but seeing past it enough to continue on your way. Enjoy your exercise routines and know that your goal is within sight. If you ache, work with a trainer to ease your pain. A massage or a dip in a pool after your routine may alleviate soreness.
5. Change your workouts. If you do the same workout day in and day out, you won’t stick with your regimen. You will get bored, become tired and eventually you will quit. All the gains you had will disappear because you didn’t change your routine. That doesn’t mean that you won’t do your daily reps, but your order of exercises should change. Moreover, incorporating adequate rest between reps is important too notes Fitness 19.
6. Take care of yourself. You’ve done quite well so far! Yet, there are small temptations and distractions that can undermine your gains. Here, you will want to resist certain things that undo what you’ve gained. That slice of cake looks tempting, but the apple-fig compote or crunchy chocolate biscotti is more in line with what you should eat. Take care of yourself and you will have better relations with others too.
7. Get enough sleep. If you need to get up earlier in the morning to exercise, then retire earlier in the evening. You cannot afford to lose sleep, an important component in your health. Moreover, you should build in extra, special rest time such as a weekend getaway with the one that you love.
Fitness Fun
Your life won’t be the same once you begin your exercise regimen. And that is a good thing. You will feel better, look different and have a new perspective on life — each are good things that can only help the new you thrive and enjoy life.