If you’ve planted yourself on the couch and haven’t gotten up again, here’s how to start getting into the habit of working out and establishing a fitness routine that you’ll stick with.
1. Get a notebook and write about your body and your goals
Write down things related to your workout such as motivational quotes, reminding yourself about things you love about your body and keeping track of your workout schedule. You’ll be more aware of what you’re doing to change your habits and you’ll be more organized. It’s good to keep track of what workouts you’re doing and how they make you feel, so that you know if you want to continue doing them or switch it up.
2. Keep track of change
Start your journey by taking a picture of how you look now and track the changes you see following the workouts. You’ll definitely see results if you stick to a routine.
3. Start small and work your way up
If you haven’t worked out for a long time, you can’t just pick up where you left off because your body isn’t used to it. Commit to just 10 minutes the first week and then slowly build up to longer workouts. This will help you create the habit you want to have in place.
4. Make small changes at a time
If your first week consists of a 10 minute walking session, then your second week can be a 20 minute session of walking mixed with jogging. Make notes to remember what changes you want to make for the upcoming week or even create a schedule for the month.
5. Expect to quit working out
The reality is that at some point you’re going to stop exercising. Your life will get hectic and you’ll fall out of your groove but you can’t let that hold you back from starting up again. Start doing 10 minutes again and work your way up, if you have to!
6. Get some cute work out clothes
A good way to motivate yourself is to get some cute workout gear. If you’re starting to get out of the habit of working out, then having a shopping spree dedicated to athletic gear will definitely get you back into the swing of things.
7. Find something you can stick with
If you aren’t enjoying a certain type of exercise, then you might want to try out different workouts such as Zumba, kickboxing, yoga, spinning, etc. You can also just go on YouTube and find a fitness guru you like and follow one of their exercise routines. The fact is that there are so many different ways to workout and you shouldn’t be limited to a typical gym session if it’s not your thing.
8. Think healthy
A lot of people tend to focus on their “problem areas” and their main motivation is to lose weight or tone a certain area. It’s better to focus on getting healthy and to remember that you’re more than a number on a scale. Just remind yourself that it’s not about obtaining a specific goal but being overall healthy and happy in your own body.
