How to Start a Fitness Routine and Be Successful

Many people struggle with how to incorporate fitness into their lives. They know they need to do something to get in shape, but they don’t know how. It can be discouraging because of the abundance of information out there. So much that you may not know where to start.

If you are one of those people, you are not alone. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight in 2016, and 650 million of them were obese. Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. Therefore, it is crucial to take action and improve your health and fitness.

But how do you start? How do you find the motivation, the time, and the resources to exercise and eat right? How do you overcome the challenges and obstacles that may come your way? How do you make fitness a part of your lifestyle and not just a temporary phase?

In this article, we will guide you through the process of starting a fitness routine and being successful. We will provide you with eight practical steps that will help you achieve your fitness goals and enjoy the benefits of a healthier and happier life.

Step 1: Make the Choice to Start Exercising and Eating Right

The first and most important step is to make the choice to start exercising and eating right. This may sound obvious, but it is not. Many people want to get in shape, but they never take the first step. They keep procrastinating, making excuses, or waiting for the perfect moment. They think that someday they will be ready, but that day never comes.

Making the choice to start exercising and eating right means that you are ready to take action and change your habits. It means that you are willing to commit to yourself and your well-being. It means that you are taking responsibility for your health and happiness.

When you make the choice to start exercising and eating right, you should ask yourself these questions:

• When can I work out?
• What activities do I want to do?
• What foods should I be eating?
• How can I track my progress?
• What are my short-term and long-term goals?

These questions will help you plan your fitness routine and make it realistic and achievable. You should write down your answers and keep them somewhere visible, such as on your fridge, your desk, or your phone. This will remind you of your choice and motivate you to stick to it.

Step 2: Write Down What You Do

The next step is to write down what you do during the week. This will help you assess your current level of activity and identify the areas where you can improve. You should include everything you do during the week, such as:

• Work hours
• Commuting hours
• Family time
• Social activities
• Hobbies
• Leisure time
• Sleep hours

You should also include what you do on weekends, as they may differ from your weekdays. You should make a list for each day of the week and be as specific as possible. For example, instead of writing “watch TV”, write “watch TV for two hours”.

Why is this step important? Because it will give you a clear picture of how you spend your time and how much physical activity you get. You may be surprised to find out that you are more or less active than you thought. You may also discover some opportunities to increase your activity level, such as:

• Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
• Walking or biking to work or school
• Taking a break from your desk and stretching
• Playing with your kids or pets
• Doing some household chores
• Joining a sports team or a fitness class

By writing down what you do, you will also be able to set realistic goals and find a few hours a week to start exercising. You will have a visual perspective on what you can and can’t do with your routine. You will be able to balance your work, family, and personal life with your fitness goals.

Step 3: Research and Get Information

The third step is to research and get information about fitness and nutrition. This will help you learn the basics and the best practices for getting in shape and staying healthy. The good news is that we live in the information age, and there are plenty of resources available online and offline. You can use your favorite search engine, social media, blogs, podcasts, videos, books, magazines, and more to find reliable and relevant information.

However, you should be careful not to go overboard and lose focus. There is a lot of information out there, and not all of it is accurate, helpful, or suitable for you. You should be selective and critical of what you read, watch, or listen to. You should also avoid information overload, which can cause confusion, frustration, or paralysis. You don’t need to know everything about fitness and nutrition to start exercising and eating right. You just need to know enough to get started and keep going.

Here are some tips to help you research and get information effectively:

• Find a source of information that you like and trust. It could be a website, a blog, a podcast, a book, a magazine, or a person. It should be credible, reputable, and updated. It should also match your interests, goals, and preferences.
• Take notes of the key points and the main takeaways. You can use a notebook, a digital document, or an app to organize your notes. You should also highlight or bookmark the sources that you want to revisit or refer to later.
• Find the simplest and easiest workouts and nutrition tips. You don’t need to follow complicated or advanced programs or diets to get results. You just need to follow the basic principles of fitness and nutrition, such as:
  • Exercise regularly and consistently
  • Do a combination of cardio, strength, and flexibility training
  • Vary your workouts and challenge yourself
  • Eat a balanced and varied diet
  • Consume enough calories, protein, carbs, and fats
  • Drink plenty of water and limit alcohol and sugary drinks
  • Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats
  • Eat less processed foods, fast foods, sweets, and saturated fats
  • Control your portions and avoid overeating or skipping meals
• If you have the money, hire a personal trainer for a few sessions to help you get started. A personal trainer is a professional who can design a customized workout program and a nutrition plan for you. They can also teach you how to perform the exercises correctly and safely, monitor your progress, and motivate you. Hiring a personal trainer is a great way to get started because you have made a commitment to meet someone to exercise. It also helps you avoid common mistakes and injuries that beginners may make.

Step 4: Create a Simple Plan and Set Realistic Goals

The fourth step is to create a simple plan and set realistic goals for your fitness routine. A plan is a roadmap that will guide you through your journey and help you stay on track. A goal is a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound outcome that you want to accomplish. Having a plan and a goal will help you focus, prioritize, and measure your results.

To create a simple plan and set realistic goals, you should follow these steps:

• Decide how many days a week you want to work out and how long each session will be. You should start with a frequency and a duration that you can manage and sustain. For example, you can start with three days a week and 30 minutes per session. You can then gradually increase them as you get fitter and more confident.
• Choose the activities that you want to do and that suit your preferences and goals. You should pick exercises that you enjoy and that challenge you. You should also vary your activities to avoid boredom and plateaus. For example, you can do cardio one day, strength training another day, and yoga or pilates the third day. You can also mix and match different exercises within each session, such as running, cycling, swimming, lifting weights, doing push-ups, squats, lunges, etc.
• Schedule your workouts and mark them on your calendar. You should treat your workouts as appointments that you can’t miss or reschedule. You should also plan them ahead of time and prepare everything you need, such as your clothes, shoes, equipment, water, snacks, etc. You should also choose a time and a place that work best for you, such as early in the morning, during your lunch break, or after work, at home, at the gym, or outdoors.
• Set one goal to change your eating habits for the next few weeks. You should start with one simple and realistic change that you can implement and maintain. For example, you can say “I will eat a healthy breakfast every day” or “I will cut down on soda and drink more water”. You should also write down your goal and keep it somewhere visible, such as on your fridge, your desk, or your phone. This will remind you of your intention and motivate you to stick to it.

Keep it Simple! Following a simple plan while on a busy schedule is much easier than following an elaborate plan. You should have a plan of which days you want to work out and one goal to change your eating habits for the next few weeks. Simple is success.