4 Tips To Get Started & Stay Committed To Fitness

We all know the hardest part about starting something new is (1) taking those first steps to start it, and (2) sticking with it past the first week. When it comes to getting back to a workout routine or starting one for the first time these sticking points are no exception. Below are four tips to help you get started with a workout routine and continue to stick with it!

1. Accountability. This is huge! If we cannot be held accountable for the things we intend to commit to, no matter how great and honest our intentions are, we are setting ourselves up for failure from the beginning. Accountability can come in all forms; it can be a friend that will meet you at the gym every morning for that 6am workout, or a spouse/significant other that will text you reminders to do your afternoon workout no matter how busy you are at work, or how about that Trainer you’ve agreed to see a couple times a week for training. Find your “accounta-bili-buddy” to keep you going strong. Set your intentions with this person so they know when and how to keep you honest with yourself. Most importantly, try your best to hold yourself accountable; whatever your reason(s) for starting a new fitness routine, you are doing this for you!!

2. Consistent Routine. Your new fitness routine needs to be just that…a routine. It should not be an item you check off your “to-do” list a couple days a week; it needs to be part of your daily structure. When planning out your upcoming week, schedule your workouts ahead of time. If you already block out a small portion of your day, you can eliminate the risk of overbooking or double booking yourself. View this as a date with yourself; this is your time to take care of you so don’t stand yourself up!

3. Pre-planned Program. Having a 4-week, 8-week or even 12-week fitness program planned out ahead of time takes away the “I’m not sure what to do today” mentality. It eliminates the excuse of not working out because you are unsure of what to do. Having a plan specifically tailored for your goals can help keep you on track!

4. Have a Goal. Goal setting doesn’t have to be hard. Goals should be clear and concise, with a way of tracking your progress. Once you come up with your long term goal; come up with short term weekly goals that serve as stepping stones to keep you on track for your overall goal.

Starting something new is never easy! In order to set ourselves up for success we need a consistent plan with goals defined from the start.

As always, we hope this helps! If you have any questions or if you would like to read about certain topics, feel free to send us an email at TeamSP@SportsPerformancePT.com.

-Tiffany