Many people set their sights on getting into shape at the beginning of the year, but few are still keeping the fitness flame burning. If you’re one of those people who’s gotten sidetracked along the way, there’s good news; you can begin again. All you need is a solid plan to meet a set of achievable goals and a strong desire to see it through to the end.
Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses and Set Specific Goals
The best way to start your fitness journey is with an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. Create a table and list them down in opposing columns. With this done, you can develop a plan for how to capitalize on your strengths while mitigating your weaknesses. Furthermore, you can base your workouts on the activities you enjoy most and the improvements you need most. For example, if gym workouts don’t thrill you yet you want to build muscle, you can incorporate swimming sessions into your routine.
Based on your specific goals, you can come up with achievable weekly or monthly benchmarks. This way, you can mentally take each day at a time and not feel overwhelmed by lofty expectations.
Choose the Right Workout Plan Based on Your Goals
When you begin to research workout plans, you’ll realize just how many fitness tract choices you have. From pilates and Zumba classes to weight lifting and triathlon training, there are plenty of different ways to get fit while having fun.
Regardless of what disciplines you choose, the key to getting in shape is creating a plan based on your specific goals and timeline. You can either draw up a plan on your own, work on one with an instructor, or steal one from a YouTube fitness guru. The best strategy is the one that will help you achieve realistic goals and best fits into your daily work-life routine.
Join a Gym or Invest in Quality Workout Equipment
One of the fastest ways to achieve your fitness goals, especially if you struggle with the discipline to stick to your regime, is to join a gym. The mere fact that you cough up a monthly fee should be enough encouragement to keep you showing up for your workouts. Gyms also come with instructors you can work with to develop a workout plan, which they will guide you through, session by session. Once you get into the groove, months down the line, you can maintain the workout timetable on your own, even modifying it to meet higher goals.
If you feel you have the self-discipline to go it alone, and a bit of space, you can invest in some weights or machines and have a fitness setup at home. With a home gym, you can easily hop straight out of bed and start your workout.
Buy the Right Post-Workout Supplements
Another way you can accelerate your progress is to use nutritional supplements. In fitness terms, there are two types of supplements: pre and post-workout supplements. Pre-workout supplements are aimed at boosting energy levels and usually contain some caffeine and creatine. Post-workout supplements help repair micro-tears in your muscles after a workout and help build up muscle mass. In this way, they also alleviate the post-workout pains you will experience after an intense workout, particularly if you’re restarting at the gym after a lengthy absence.
Post-workout supplements often come in the form of a protein powder. For example, collagen protein is an essential component in the structure of not just muscles, but of tendons, ligaments, and even bones. Many people use collagen supplements as a way to foster muscle repair. Click here to get your own collagen protein powder and enjoy its many health benefits.
Make Your Workout a Part of Your Routine
Breaking your normal work-life cycle to incorporate some exercise is half as daunting as the physical exertion itself. An easy trick to get started is to start small. Instead of allocating an hour to exercise, start by giving it a five-minute slot. Or, you could break your workout time into multiple 15-minute chunks spread throughout the day.
Change Your Diet to Assist Your Efforts
To get the most out of your workouts, you need to make adjacent adjustments to your eating habits. Besides getting in more protein to build muscle, you should increase your intake of fruits and vegetables to help synthesize the protein you ingest. Eating healthy also gives you more energy and helps sustain weight loss.
Don’t Wait to Get Started
There’s no better time than now to begin making these life-changing moves. Don’t wait for the year to end. Don’t give yourself another excuse. Sign up for a gym or set out a workout plan complete with weekly milestones today.