7 Tips For Beginners In Their Fitness Journey

If you just started your fitness journey or are thinking about adding more fitness into your life – give yourself a big hell yes!

This is a huge step in your overall mental and physical health.

But, with any first step, things may be a little overwhelming, and it can be hard to understand where to start (especially without having a Coach to guide you through). If you’re not clear about what you’re doing or the reason behind it, it can be easy to give up.

So, here are 7 tips to help you get started in your journey!

1. Identity your “why”, “what”, and “how” so you can be clear about your goals.

When you’re starting, ask yourself: ‘WHY are you adding fitness into your life? In WHAT ways will fitness affect your life? How are you going to incorporate fitness into your life? Once you know the answer to these three questions, then all you have to do is take action!

2. Prioritize consistency over intensity.

It’s better to start with a routine that is easy and enjoyable. The easier you start and the more enjoyable the activity, the more likely you are to stick to it. But, this does NOT mean that you won’t make progress. You’re still able to set lofty goals, but the gains will be gradual and your progress will compound and accelerate over time! The worst thing that can happen to your routine is that you stop. So find a workout regimen or routine that you enjoy and can stick to!

3. Find others to support you.

Motivation gets you started, but making those healthy practices into habits is the hard part. Having a support system like family, friends, and coworkers that also have the same goals/mindset as you can help you stay motivated. Find a workout buddy, or running group, or join a fitness class!

4. Start slow.

Start small, set realistic goals, and be kind to your body. Take breaks as often as you need. Dedicating time to a new fitness routine is not easy. So, if you’re not truthful about your fitness level and go too hard too quickly, you could set yourself up for burnout or injury.

5. Accept that you’ll have setbacks.

Try to be patient with yourself. Every day won’t be perfect, and you’re going to have setbacks. How you overcome those setbacks is what will determine if you are working toward your goals or not. The key is to be persistent and keep moving forward. The only thing constant in life is change, so we should be prepared to make changes to be the best version of ourselves.

6. Don’t compare yourself to others.

Be ok with looking goofy and making mistakes, without judging yourself. Stay the course, and with every workout, you’ll get better and better. The goal is not perfection, but rather a progress. If you’re in a group environment (CrossFit, commercial gym, OTF, etc.) don’t even think about comparing yourself to anyone else in the room. It may seem that others are moving perfectly, and have an amazing amount of strength. But, they were once beginners too.

7. Appreciate what your body can do right now.

Be thankful for where you are right now and have a clear image of where you want to be. After that, figure out a simple routine/plan to reach your goals and just take it one step at a time. Thinking too far ahead and getting wrapped up in where you want to be can take away the joy of the process. Your body is a freakin’ amazing thing, so take a few moments every single day to appreciate that. Respect for yourself can help you create the strongest body of your life.