Whether you want to lose those extra pounds, struggled with your health or looking to tone up and feel like a million dollars again, looking after your body is fundamental to feeling well. Great, you want to start living a healthier more balanced lifestyle, but where do you start?
Getting started with fitness can be both scary and daunting. A lot of people make the mistake of jumping into a hardcore fitness program, which isn’t necessarily the correct way to go. One, you will be putting too much stress on your body that it cannot handle and secondly, you will become frustrated because your body cannot keep up with the advanced routine. These things take time, it’s always important to remember this when you are just starting out and keep things simple in the beginning – it’s all about baby steps!
One thing that I would like to point out is that you don’t have to have a gym membership to get fit. Yeah, I’m probably going against every rule in the health and fitness bible, but it’s true. You can get a really good workout at home using some of the really wonderful online resources available, fitness DVDs, and online memberships. I haven’t had a gym membership for over a year now because it doesn’t suit my current lifestyle, plus I know that I can get a really effective workout at home. Alternatively running, walking, dancing and yoga are all great workouts that will have you fit and active in no time.
With this in mind, it is also important to remember that you don’t have to be the owner of really expensive workout equipment to get in some decent exercise at home. A set of weights, a yoga mat, kettle bells or whichever equipment you are looking to buy can be picked up at reasonable prices from various stores.
So if you’re looking to get started with fitness, or even looking to get back into fitness after a long break these tips have you covered!
DISCOVER AT WHAT TIME OF DAY YOU WORKOUT THE BEST
For me, this is the morning as I feel like I’m more productive and it’s out of the way. I know some of you like to work out at lunchtime and in the evening too. Whatever time you are at your optimum best try to schedule your workouts at this time if possible, so that you are putting 100% into your workouts and making every second count.
MAKE SURE YOU STAY HYDRATED
It’s so important to stay hydrated when you workout because you lose a lot of water through sweat, plus it can make you really thirsty. I’ve been using my new BRITA fill&go Active Bottle, which is a great way to drink filtered water when I’m working out. Since it’s so portable, I’ve taken it along on our long walks too.
TAKE IT SLOW AND PROGRESS OVER TIME
FIND HOW YOU LOVE TO MOVE YOUR BODY
Never start something that you’re not going to enjoy as this will only result in you giving up at the first hurdle. Exercise comes in all shapes and sizes so there should be something out there that you really find fun, but also keeps you fit as well.
CHANGE THINGS UP
MAKE TIME IN YOU SCHEDULE TO WORKOUT
SET YOURSELF CHALLENGES
WORKOUT WITH A FRIEND
Well, there are some of my top tips for getting into working out. I really hope that you have found this useful. I think it’s all about baby steps, but the most important step is the first one. Once you get into the swing of it and find what works best for you, then you will be well on your way. As I always say, just remember to have fun with it otherwise there just isn’t any point.
ARE YOU JUST GETTING STARTING WITH FITNESS? HOW’S IT ALL GOING?
HOW DID YOU GET INTO WORKING OUT?
*Post commissioned by BRITA, but all opinions are my own.
I’m more of a runner so I got into it when my son started running a few years ago. The Brita bottle looks great! Always important to hydrate after any type of exercise. I like this quote: “Do you say one day or day one?” I guess we all have to start somewhere. Val x
I love that quote! 🙂
Getting started with fitness can be hard. I’m trying to get back into my fitness programme
It’s the hardest thing isn’t it.
I must get my hands on one of those Brita filtered bottles, they look superb! This is a great post Jemma, I’ve always done some form of exercise. I turn 40 this year and my aim was to be fitter at 40 than 30 and I think I just might be that thanks to a bit of running.
They’re really good quality and I love that I can have fresh filtered water on the go.
Some fab tips – i like yoga and have found changing routines/videos helps so that even with exercise i enjoy that it doesn’t become dull x
Changing things up now and then definitely helps.
Really great tips. I keep trying my hardest to get back into fitness, but keep failing. I’m determined to start again!
Take your time and go easy on yourself. When you feel like getting back to it things will seem easier instead of forcing yourself to do it.
youtube videos really hope me to work out at any time, I work anti social hours and log shifts so the gym isn’t practical.
Youtube videos are a god send!
I really do need to MAKE time to work out at home, I just don’t seem to remember. I rely heavily on the school runs for my exercise but it’s clearly not enough
Maybe scheduling something in and writing it down would help?
I did find having a friend to work out with did encourage me to do it more often and try other classes. I need to get back into a routine of working out again x
Having a friend workout with you is a big help.
I found doing the couch to 5k app really helped me get into fitness x
I love the C25K, such a great way to get into fitness and running.
I am sat hee nodding along as I read this knowing full that I should make more time, a lot more time, than I do x
I love dance work out DVDs, they always make me feel better for moving around and sweating a bit!
They sound like fun! 🙂
I love all your wise words of advice! Certainly for me I have to schedule my exercise in and I do find it easier to have a buddy to go along with. Even a walk everyday is better than nothing x
I have to schedule it in too, otherwise it never gets done. 🙂
I’ve been working out with a friend, we do power walks regularly and it is great to boost fitness levels.
Having someone to workout with is a real boost.
I suffer from bouts of ill health so every time I have one I have to stop working out – when I feel better it feels like I’m starting from square one again with my fitness. I jut have to remember that a little is better than none and progressing does come quite quickly!
Sorry to hear about your ill health. I think you definitely have the right approach of slowing things down and taking care of you.
Great tips! The hardest is probably getting started, so your tips will probably come in handy to many 🙂 I started practising yoga again in January, after a couple of years not managing to find any time to do it after I had my 4th baby, and I feel so much better for it!
The hardest thing is definitely getting started. It’s so tough in the beginning.
I really need to start getting back into fitness. I like the sound of working out with someone as that would give me motivation to keep going!
I like the idea of taking it slow to start with. I have a tendency to be ‘all or nothing’ when it comes to fitness and of course I always end up burning out fast -_-
I also agree with the not having to own a gym memenership! I’ve recently bought a Fitbit and that’s really motivated me .
This is such a great and helpful post, I really need to start working out more! xo
Great post. I agree with all of the tips are good, especially the last one. It’s really hard when getting started with fitness alone. Friends often make activities become more interested.