How to Start Exercising: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting in Shape

 How to Start Exercising: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting in Shape

Do you have trouble getting motivated to work out? If you’re new to exercise, it can seem like everyone else has the motivation and discipline you lack, but that’s not true at all. In fact, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, only 21 percent of adults actually get the recommended amount of exercise each week, so that means the odds are good that you aren’t alone in your challenge to get in shape.

Get a physical

It’s important to get a physical before starting any kind of new exercise routine. This will help you determine if there are any health concerns that need to be taken into account. It will also give you a baseline level of fitness to work from. You may find, for example, that you can’t even run for a minute without getting winded and this tells you what your starting point is. You may want to start by walking or doing another form of cardio first until your body has had time to build up some strength and stamina. Once you’ve been working out consistently for six weeks or so, you can start adding other types of exercises into the mix. Once again, talk to your doctor before beginning anything new. If they tell you it’s safe, then it's time to do some research on what type of workout you would like to do. The first thing I recommend is looking at a beginner's guide for that specific activity. There are plenty of free resources online with videos demonstrating proper technique as well as explanations about how much intensity should be used during each session and which muscles should be targeted.

Work out with someone else

It can be tough to motivate yourself to exercise, but working out with a friend or family member can help. Not only will you be more likely to stick with your workout routine, but you’ll also have someone to help you stay on track. Plus, working out with someone else can make the time fly by and make it more fun. Many gyms offer classes that allow people of all fitness levels to work out together. Check with your local gym or community center for details.

A few reasons why physical activity is important: 

1) Exercise improves mood and reduces stress 

2) Helps improve sleep quality 

3) Reduces fatigue 

4) Increases energy levels

Set goals

You’re more likely to stick with a workout routine if you have specific goals in mind. Do you want to lose weight, build muscle, or just feel better? Once you know what you want to achieve, you can create a plan to help you reach your goals. If you want to lose weight, for example, the first step is to determine how many calories you should be eating per day. The next step is deciding which types of foods are best for your diet and finally figuring out how much time each day you should be exercising. If you want to gain muscle mass, then it’s important that you work out regularly and eat plenty of protein-rich foods like eggs and beans! Finally, if you're just looking to get in shape without losing any weight or building any muscle, it's important that you stay consistent with your workouts. Try keeping an exercise journal to keep track of how often you work out so that you don't forget!

Don’t be afraid to start slow

Many people give up on exercise because they try to do too much too soon. If you’re just starting out, don’t be afraid to start slow. You can always increase the intensity and frequency of your workouts as you get more comfortable. Exercise doesn’t have to mean 30 minutes at the gym every day; it could also mean taking a walk outside or doing a few push-ups while watching TV. Whatever your workout looks like, make sure it's something that fits into your lifestyle! The point is to keep moving, so find an activity that suits your interests and abilities. Walking is a great way for beginners to get started with their fitness goals, but if you're looking for more of a challenge, running or biking are great options. Remember: the most important thing is that you're active - anything counts!

Make it fun

One of the best ways to make sure you stick with an exercise routine is to find something that you enjoy doing. If you hate running, don’t force yourself to do it just because you think it’s good for you. Find an activity that gets you moving and makes you happy, whether it’s taking a dance class or going for a hike. You'll be more likely to stay on track if you're actually enjoying your workouts. As long as you have some form of physical activity each day, it will help keep your weight down and reduce stress. Just remember to listen to your body so that you can prevent injury from overdoing it. It's not always easy to find time to work out, but you should try to dedicate at least 10 minutes per day. Make working out part of your morning routine (right after brushing your teeth), and include a few minutes in the evening before bed.

Use apps and trackers to stay motivated

No matter what your fitness goals are, there’s an app or tracker out there that can help you stay on track. By setting goals and tracking your progress, you’ll be more likely to stick with your workout routine. And when you see yourself making progress, it’ll be even more motivating to keep going. Strava has a social component so you can compete against friends and family members, Fitbit lets you set goals to stay motivated, while Nike+ Run Club is perfect for runners. So which one should you use? It really depends on the kind of exercise you're doing. For example, if you want to focus on running, then Nike+ Run Club would be best for you. For strength training or weightlifting, try Stronglifts 5x5 as it focuses on strength training routines over cardio workouts. For people who want yoga guidance or high-intensity interval training (HIIT), try Sworkit Pro. You can also download Couch-to-5K from the App Store to gradually work up from walking 2 miles per day to running 5k per day.

Just start!

It can be hard to find the motivation to start exercising, but once you get started, you’ll feel great! And the more you do it, the easier it will become. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Find an activity that you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, you won’t stick with it. There are tons of different options out there, so find something that sounds fun to you. Yoga is great for beginners, and people who like running often really enjoy swimming. Whatever you decide on, make sure it’s something you know how to do well before starting a workout routine.

2. Schedule your workouts into your daily life. 

3. Set reasonable goals for yourself and celebrate your successes! Maybe you want to go from only walking around the block a couple times to going for long walks every day. Maybe you want to work up from doing 5 pushups at a time to 20 pushups at a time. Whatever it is, make sure you take baby steps towards those goals—or set smaller ones if they seem too big—and then congratulate yourself when you reach them!