How To Start a Fitness Regime and Stick to It

     Starting a new fitness regime can be exciting. It can either be your first visit to a gym or you can be working on a new fitness goal. Whatever the cause may be, it is fun and refreshing when you first begin.......and then it may slow down after some time. Starting a fitness routine is not easy, nor is sticking to one. Some of us may have never entered a gym in our lives while some of us may be seasoned athletes. One of the most common statements I've heard about new members at a gym are: "I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel like everyone's staring at me." And that's okay and it's normal! How could you be expected to know how to perform a perfect squat or how to set up the levers on a leg extension machine? You are not expected to know these things. But you know what you could do? .................................................

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..............ask.

     You enter a LA Fitness and see those men and women walking around in their black pants and black staff shirts? They are there to help you. Assist you with your form, answer any exercise related question you may have and yes, show you how to use the equipment. Being a personal trainer myself, I am expected to know everything there is when it comes to gyms, but even I get confused sometimes. It happens. You live, you learn, you practice, you perfect. However, I would still like to share some of my tips with you:

TIPS

Group Fitness Classes                                   

Group fitness classes are available in many types and for all levels, especially beginners. When I first began going to the gym, all I did was attend the classes. These helped because a) I had no idea what I was doing, b) working out in a group environment was less daunting than out there on my own and c) they taught me different exercises and routines that I later began to do on my own time. Had it not been for the group fitness classes, I might still be that scared girl in the corner doing 100 push ups and sit ups on a mat and calling it a day because I didn't know what to do. Group fitness will also help you stick to a regime by dedicating yourself to your classes. 

Hire a Personal Trainer

A few months into my new fitness regime, I began to hit a plateau. I was doing the same exercises over and over and stopped noticing a difference in my physique. I decided I needed that extra push so I hired a personal trainer (BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE). Working with a trainer not only pushed my to max potential but it also gave me results I never expected. Losing 30 pounds in less than a year was the best accomplishment of my life and I owe it all to my very first trainer, Sharon. Hiring a trainer also kept me motivated to stick to my fitness regime as I was excited to see how much I could do each session and had already committed to a contact, which I was paying for. And before you start going ham about how "expensive" personal training is, I always say, you can never put a price on your health. So you might have to cut one trip to Zara or a few restaurant meals a month, but it is worth it my friend!   

Goals and Incentives  

Remember how your parents would always give you what you wanted if you either cleaned your room, did your homework, watered the grass, etc.? Well, if you were like me, you damn well did everything they asked to get that reward in the end! It always works. My suggestion is to set small goals for yourself, either weekly, biweekly or monthly and reward yourself. It can be as simple as: "I will attend four Zumba classes this week" and you can reward yourself with a new workout top or headband. Or maybe you want to set an even bigger goal for a bigger reward? "If I do not lose ten pounds in two months, I will not book that Miami trip with the girls." Make it work in your favour. Goals are also a helpful way to keep the motivation going and keeping your spirits up. Exercise routines can be get boring or you may reach plateaus, at which point you can set new goals for yourself to push yourself even further!

Surround yourself with Positivity

Haters are always going to hate. I'm not asking you to drop all your friends and make new ones. I'm asking you to carefully observe your surroundings. Is everyone in your life really there for you? Are your friends and family supporting your new fitness regime? Don't hang around with negative people because it is these people who will eventually bring you down. If your friends are there for you and happy for you, they will support you on this new journey. If they complain, or try to deter you from the gym, well, you know the answer to that. Choose your friends wisely. Let nothing stand in the way of your true potential.

Well, there you have it people. My tips. Read them over and over. And stick to it! It gets hard. There may be days you just want to give up or days you skip your workout or days you eat 2 entire bags of Lays Salt and Vinegar chips (sooo damn good), but it's okay. You'll get back up and you'll start again. You'll come back to read my blog and get motivated ;) 

As always, thanks for coming out!

Inform2Inspire