It’s never too late to kick it back into gear and start working out again after a break, no matter how long the break was. Here are 5 simple steps to restart and ease your way back into it.
How to Restart Your Routine
Start Small
So you haven’t lifted a weight in a while? Give yourself a break. You are not in the same place you were before and that is okay. All it takes is one good workout to reboot yourself. However, that first week you begin to ease back into exercising, start out small. Just keep yourself moving and give yourself credit when you are being more active. Try to commit to doing just 10 minutes of exercise a day. Whether that be taking the dog for a 10-minute walk or doing 10 easy minutes of an Elite Virtual Studio class. Whatever form of exercise you may choose, stick to it to recreate that active habit.
Take One Step at a Time
Try not to make a ton of changes at once. Plan ahead. For that first week, you plan on exercising, sit down on Sunday evening, look at your schedule for the week, and decide when you are going to fit in that 10-minute workout each day. Then, the next week, maybe you start setting your workout clothes out the night before so you are prepared. The following week, start writing down small, achievable goals that will keep you going.
Set Short-Term Goals
Setting goals for yourself will help you to stay motivated and feel accomplished. When you set these goals, make them specific, realistic, and achievable for yourself. Once you have set a goal, think of how you will be rewarded. If your goal is that you want to workout for 20 minutes for 3 days this week and take the dog for a 10-minute walk, maybe your reward is that you splurge and buy a new pair of running shoes next week. Setting goals will not only keep you motivated to keep up with your new routine, but it will help to build new, healthy habits.
Create New Habits or Restart Old Ones
Habits are created from doing the daily activities we choose to put our time towards consistently. The more often you engage in your exercise routine, the more like it will become one of your daily healthy habits. Once working out becomes a habit, it will eventually become part of your daily life.
Remember: Do it for Yourself
You are always a work in progress and being fit and healthy should be about making you feel great, feel confident in your own skin, and be the best version of you that you can be. You are doing this for yourself and no else, so don’t give up and don’t let yourself down. Each time you exercise, know that you are doing something good to better yourself and be proud of it.
As you progress in your new fitness routine, always remember to utilize your resources. Whether that be trainers at the gym you belong to, the instructor in your group exercise class, or the awesome motivator in that exercise video, do not be afraid to ask questions and challenge your fitness level.
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Written by Taylor Thompson, Certified Personal Trainer, Aquatics Director, and Nutritionist at Elite Sports Club – Brookfield
Taylor has a B.S. in Dietetics from UW-Stevens Point and is an American Council of Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Certified Zumba Instructor. She specializes in Nutrition & Weight Loss, Youth Training, Strength Training, and Kickboxing. Taylor enjoys dancing, traveling, cooking, and spending time with friends. She believes that you have to love yourself enough that you are willing to make changes and push yourself outside your comfort zone where big results can be achieved.