Starting a new fitness regime can seem overwhelming. As fitness and health expert Ilija Jahura points out, though, there are simple and proven tips you can follow that will help you overcome that reticence and ease you into a new routine.
Following these proven methods will help ensure you don’t overdo a workout, which will help prevent you from suffering an injury. Before you start a new workout routine, follow these six tips to help you succeed.
1. Start Slow
If you’re just getting into a fitness routine, or even re-starting one, the best path forward is to start slow. Your instinct may be to go hard right out of the gate, but that would be an ill-advised plan.
When you pace yourself, you’ll allow your body to ease into the increased physical activity. This will help you avoid injury. You’ll also be training your mind to get excited about the exercise routine, instead of dreading another intense workout.
Even a few 30-minute exercise routines a week is a good start.
2. Be Consistent
Consistency is the key to a prolonged fitness plan. Instead of focusing on how intense your workouts are, just make sure you are working out consistently every week.
As mentioned, you can start with just a few days a week. Then, over time, you can ramp up your activity.
3. Do Something You Like
There are so many different workouts you can do that there’s really no sense in doing something that you don’t enjoy. We are much more likely to stick to something if we’re having fun while we’re doing it.
If you like lifting weights and running, that’s great. But, if you don’t, try other fitness routines that work on the same muscle groups. Aerobics classes, for example, including water aerobics, can be as beneficial — if not more so — than running on a treadmill.
4. Set Goals
Any time you are trying something new, it’s a good idea to set goals. This is especially true with a new fitness routine. Different people can get different things out of working out.
Setting goals can help you create a workout routine that will help you achieve those goals, as well as keep you motivated to keep at it, even when you might not want to.
Just make sure the goals you set are realistic. You can always update your goals and set new ones as you reach milestones.
5. Workout with Someone Else
A great way to keep yourself motivated is to partner up with a friend, colleague or someone else who shares your fitness goals. When someone else is relying on you, you’re more likely to show up for them. That feeling of not wanting to let someone else down is a strong motivator to keep you going.
6. Don’t Give Up
Everyone will hit a bump in the road from time to time. Don’t let these temporary set-backs knock you off the rails completely.
Ilija Jahura says find something to motivate you to get back on track, and you’ll be reaching your fitness goals in no time.
About Ilija Jahura
Ilija Jahura is a fitness and health expert based out of Kelowna, British Columbia. His main focuses include diet planning, cardiovascular development, as well as hypertrophy training and muscle-building. But at the end of the day, Ilija is committed to helping his clients become the best possible version of themselves — not only in the gym but also in life — by helping them achieve their dreams and goals.
Sarah Brown (RN) is the Lead Editor at Health News Tribune where she covers mental health and emotional wellness. Sarah graduated with a degree in nursing from Ryerson in Toronto. She currently lives in Toronto. Prior to becoming a journalist, Lindsay worked as a health professional in Cambridge Ontario.
